S’wak Polls: Bukit Sari, Ba'kelalan folk want rural development intensified

By Mohd Fharkhan Abdul Ghapar

LAWAS, Dec 13 -- Infrastructure development continues to be something folks in the northernmost districts of Sarawak, including voters in the Bukit Sari and Ba'kelalan constituencies, yearn for. 

For residents in both these areas, infrastructure development projects are important, to ensure those in the interior are not left behind from modernisation similar to benefits enjoyed by their urban counterparts. 

These include better health facilities and road networks, and given the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,  telecommunication and internet infrastructure to conduct daily affairs online, including educational activities.

A Bukit Sari voter, Engku Mohamad Bakar, 45, who lives in Trusan, said although there were development projects in Lawas, the people wanted more done in terms of basic necessities in some areas such as clean water supply.

“The development we have now is good, it is just that we are facing insufficient water supply in the villages,” Engku Mohamad, who is one of the 13,054 voters in the Bukit Sari constituency eligible to vote in the 12th Sarawak polls on Dec 18.

Sharing his sentiment is Molin Jalun, 36, who said that some areas in Lawas still do not have telecommunication facilities due to hilly terrain.

“There are some villages that do not have any internet and telephone access (due to blind spots) so we have to go to the main road, and sometimes to Lawas town, just to get better coverage,” said the mother of four.

Lawas district, located in the Limbang division, is the furthest location in Sarawak, bordering Sabah and Brunei, while the Ba’kelalan area borders Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Geographically challenging, Lawas district needs planned infrastructure development, as it can only be accessed by air, water (ferry or speedboat), or by road via Brunei or Kota Kinabalu.

The Sarawak government has announced the first package for the construction of the Sarawak-Sabah Link Road (SSLR) project, stretching 77 kilometers (km), linking Lawas-Limbang-Miri, bypassing Brunei, which will also benefit and boost socio-economic development. 

Meanwhile, Ba’kelalan voter, Dayangku Siti Syah Bakar, 55, wants more business premises such as shops to be built for the convenience of local traders, fishermen and farmers.

Dayangku Siti Syah, who runs a restaurant, said those wanting to do business now had to jostle for vacant business premises.

Vegetable and forest products trader, Yohana Kalat, 41, in the meantime, hopes that poor road conditions in the villages will be given due attention by the authorities.

These roads need to be upgraded for the convenience of the local population, she said.

“Internet facilities are also important... children are learning online, but because internet coverage in the village is not very good, our children’s attendance has not been very encouraging,” she said.

-- BERNAMA