THERE is no doubt that Sarawak’s infrastructure development has made significant strides over the years. Once considered a far-off dream, road connectivity to some of the most remote corners of the region is now steadily becoming a reality.
But as Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas aptly reminded us yesterday during the launch of the Highland Development Agency (HDA) laboratory in Miri, the journey is far from over.
The state government’s ambitious pledge to connect all rural settlements by 2030 is more than just a development target – it is a moral and economic imperative.
For communities in areas such as Baram, Bario, Long San, and many other interior settlements, a proper road is more than a matter of convenience – it is a vital link to life’s essentials: healthcare, education, markets, and economic opportunities. In some cases, it can even mean the difference between hardship and survival.
“These are not just roads – they are lifelines for communities,” said the deputy premier. And he is right. The roads being built represent a critical first step toward progress.
At the same time, it is equally important to ensure that development continues beyond connectivity — that what awaits at the end of these roads truly enriches lives.
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led government has taken a strategic and well-resourced approach by establishing nine regional development agencies, each entrusted with RM1.5 billion to drive infrastructure and socio-economic growth within their respective areas.
Among them, the Highland Development Agency (HDA), which oversees some of Sarawak’s most remote and challenging terrain, has already earmarked RM1 billion for road networks and supporting development in the highlands.
It is, by all measures, a massive investment – and a necessary one. The logistics of building roads through dense forests, mountainous terrain, and flood-prone areas are complex and costly.
Still, while connectivity is a crucial starting point, it should not be seen as the final goal. Roads can link villages, but they do not automatically resolve the deeper challenges of poverty, limited access to services, or social isolation.
A paved road into Bario or Long Semadoh may greatly improve mobility. However, if schools remain understaffed, basic healthcare remains distant, and young people lack job opportunities or internet access – the question remains: what are we truly connecting them to?
This is why Uggah’s emphasis on agriculture and tourism as the next pillars of highland development is not only timely but vital. These sectors hold real potential to transform rural livelihoods – provided they are approached with long-term support, community involvement, and market accessibility in mind.
Bario, he noted, has promising potential in areas like coffee, passion fruit, buffalo cheese production, and traditional handicrafts. These are not pie-in-the-sky ideas – they are viable opportunities waiting to be harnessed.
But to realise their potential, we need more than feasibility studies and glossy presentations. We need sustained support, capacity-building programmes, micro-financing, and access to real markets, both local and international.
Take buffalo cheese, for instance. It’s great to hear about ongoing production efforts in Limbang but to make it truly impactful, such initiatives must be practical, scalable, and, most importantly, owned by the local communities.
Government agencies can and should act as catalysts, but the sustainability of such projects depends on how deeply they are rooted in local participation.
The same goes for tourism. The highlands of Sarawak are home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes and culturally rich communities in Malaysia.
With the right approach, they can be positioned as unique ecotourism destinations. But tourism must be handled with care.
The unique heritage of Sarawak’s highland tribes must be celebrated, not packaged for Instagram. If not managed carefully, it could turn heritage into a show – selling traditions instead of protecting those of the Kelabit, Lun Bawang, Penan, and other highland communities. Equally critical in this equation is the issue of accountability.
Uggah, who is also Second Minister for Finance and New Economy and Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, warned that failure to utilise the allocated funds properly could lead to public backlash – and in the age of social media, that backlash can be swift and far-reaching.
Rural residents may be geographically isolated, but they are no longer voiceless. One viral post showing a broken bridge, a delayed project, or a failed promise can do more damage to government credibility than any physical landslide.
Therefore, if we are to make the 2030 goal a reality, the execution must match the planning. And execution, in this case, means more than just pouring concrete.
It means engaging the community every step of the way. True rural development is not about delivering aid packages from the top. It is about working side by side with longhouse chiefs, farmers, teachers, mothers, and youths – ensuring they are active partners, not passive recipients.
Thankfully, the GPS-led government has demonstrated that its “no one left behind” pledge is more than just a political catchphrase – it is a sincere and guiding principle.
This commitment to inclusive development goes beyond physical infrastructure; it seeks to ensure that even the most remote and marginalised communities are not only reached but recognised, heard, and empowered.
For this vision to be fully realised, it must be supported by consistent, ground-level action. The promise of “no one left behind” holds meaning only when every voice – however remote or quiet – is genuinely heard and given a role in shaping the future.
Inclusive progress requires more than delivering development; it demands shared responsibility. Rural communities must be seen not as passive recipients, but as active partners in driving change.
Likewise, the people themselves must play their part. Development is a two-way effort. While the government can build roads and open up opportunities, it is up to the communities to embrace them, sustain what is established, and take ownership of their growth. Participation, accountability, and adaptability are just as vital as funding or policy.
To truly reciprocate the government’s efforts, the local communities must demonstrate initiative, adapt to change, and collaborate actively to ensure that development translates into lasting and meaningful progress.
With less than five years to go before 2030, the countdown has begun. The Sarawak government has laid a strong foundation and committed substantial resources to rural development.
The focus now is on thoughtful, people-centred implementation – development carried out with empathy, guided by compassion, and anchored in the real needs of rural communities.
Sarawak is already on the right path. Now, it is about seeing the journey through – with a vision that goes beyond roadmaps and budget figures, toward development that is truly inclusive and transformative. The people deserve nothing less.
DISCLAIMER:
Aden Nagrace is the Editor-in-Chief of Sarawak Tribune. However, the views expressed here are his personal opinion and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. He can be reached at drnagrace@gmail.com.
