SIBU: Poor telecommunications coverage, deteriorating roads and inadequate drainage emerged as key concerns raised by residents during a community visit by the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Bawang Assan Branch team to Engkilo, West Bank, here on Saturday (Oct 31).
The team led by Branch chairman Councillor Kevin Lau visited 12 households along Jalan Ing Guong and Jalan Tai Sing, engaging residents to understand their difficulties and identify outstanding infrastructure problems requiring attention.
Unreliable telecommunications reception emerged as one of the major concerns, particularly as a telecommunications tower has already been installed in the area but is yet to become operational.
Lau, who is also Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC)’s Environment and Public Health Standing Committee chairman said his team would follow up with the relevant parties to obtain an update on the tower’s progress and clarify when it could be activated to provide residents with better telecommunications coverage.
Residents also highlighted the need for road upgrading and asphalt surfacing, improvements to the drainage system, as well as fallen telecommunications cables that require repair and proper attention.
On electricity supply issues, Lau said his team had immediately contacted the relevant authorities and provided the exact locations of the reported problems to facilitate inspection and follow-up action.
He stressed that the visit was more than a routine community engagement, as it provided an opportunity to gather feedback directly from residents and bring their concerns to the attention of the agencies responsible.
“Our team promptly referred the issues raised by residents to the relevant authorities and provided the necessary details to help the agencies assess the situation and take appropriate follow-up action,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the residents for their warm reception, cooperation and understanding, acknowledging that resolving infrastructure-related complaints often requires several stages, including formal reporting, technical assessment and coordination among the relevant agencies.
He emphasised that effective community service must go beyond occasional visits, requiring continuous engagement and follow-up to ensure that problems identified on the ground do not go unattended.
He said his team would continue its house-to-house outreach across Bawang Assan, maintaining close contact with residents and working with the relevant authorities to address outstanding infrastructure issues and improve the community’s living conditions.
