TELANG USAN: Local assemblyman Datuk Dennis Ngau has appealed for the Sarawak government to swiftly address the damaged ex-logging bridges in Ulu Baram.
He said the damaged bridges, which were built by logging companies operating in the area was not maintained after logging ceased, leaving local communities stranded and cut off from food and water supplies.
Speaking to New Sarawak Tribune, Dennis said state government has appointed three companies to maintain rural roads in the constituency but their scope was limited to only the main road.
“This means the Samling road, Interhill road and Shin Yang road was left untouched and this is where the big problem arises – these roads belonged to the logging companies and they are no longer operating here.
“The contract given by the state government also does not cover the repair of ex-logging bridges and now when it is broken, there is no one to repair them.
“It is a herculean effort on my part, I have to face a mountain of heavy tasks to try to put the road system back to use for our people,” he said.
The Telang Usan assemblyman called for swift assistance from Sarawak government and the Premier to intervene and resolve the issue faced by both himself and Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala.
“This is because when we called the Public Works Department (JKR), they will take their time as they have their own procedures and red tapes that they have to go through.
“However, when you are stuck at the broken bridge without food and water, which my people and I went through, they you would understand,” he said, adding that things are not getting better.
At the same time, Dennis also lamented that only 168km of road has been built from the over 1,000km needed to cover the constituency under the RM1.5 billion allocation to the Highland Development Agency (HDA).
“We still need another 900 more kilometres to go. We do not ask for roads to all the villages, but it is enough that the bridges are repaired urgently.
“We also do not ask for R3, R2 and R1 standard roads, what is important is that it is taken care of,” he said.
