KAPIT: The Sarawak Government’s decision to take over logging roads, including Jiwa Murni roads is expected to improve connectivity, safety and socio-economic opportunities for rural communities in Baleh and across Kapit Division.
Baleh assemblyman, Nicholas Kudi, welcomed the announcement of the takeover by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Saturday (June 27) during the ‘Sarawakku Sayang’ programme here, describing it as a major step towards addressing long standing concerns over accessibility and road safety in the interior.
He said that throughout his tenure as the assemblyman for Baleh, he had consistently raised issues concerning the safety of the Jiwa Murni roads, which serve as a vital link between Kapit town and longhouses in the Baleh constituency.
“Based on what we have experienced and what I have observed as the assemblyman for Baleh, the current condition of the Jiwa Murni roads is truly unsafe for public use,” he said in an interview with Sarawak Tribune today (June 28).
Kudi expressed his appreciation to the Sarawak Government and the Premier for taking action on the issue, noting that improved road connectivity would not only facilitate movement between communities but also enhance socio-economic development in the area.
He said better roads would enable residents in remote longhouses to transport agricultural produce and other goods to Kapit town more efficiently, thereby improving livelihoods.
According to Kudi, more than 60 per cent of communities in Baleh continue to rely on logging roads, with many longhouses having no alternative means of access.
He said the Sarawak Government’s move to take over and gazette 1,856.76 kilometres of logging roads, including Jiwa Murni roads, in Kapit Division demonstrated its commitment to improving accessibility and ensuring safer travel for rural communities, particularly during the rainy season when road conditions often become hazardous.
Meanwhile, Kudi reiterated the need for an Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex at Tapak Megah, citing its strategic location near the Sarawak-Indonesia border and the development of Nusantara as Indonesia’s new capital.
He said Tapak Megah’s proximity to Long Nawang and the border area made it a suitable location for an ICQS facility to regulate cross border movement between Sarawak and Indonesia.
“From a practical standpoint, the ICQS at Tapak Megah is very much needed. As Nusantara develops into Indonesia’s new capital, Sarawak and Malaysia should make preparations for increased movement and economic activity,” he said.
Kudi added that Long Nawang is located only about 20 kilometres from the nearest border entry point in the Ulu Baleh area, underscoring the strategic importance of establishing an ICQS facility at Tapak Megah.
He said the development of Nusantara would likely create greater opportunities for trade and socio-economic cooperation between Sarawak and Indonesia, making border infrastructure increasingly important.
