KAKUS: Community leaders have called for the creation of the Bukit Arip constituency to address service delivery challenges faced by residents across the vast Kakus area.
Jalan Bukut and Bawan area chief, Penghulu Jeffery Irut, said Kakus covers about 5,701 square kilometres and has 23,955 voters, making access to government agencies costly and time-consuming for many rural communities.
The constituency is part of the Selangau parliamentary seat, which spans 9,193 square kilometres across three administrative divisions and has 49,265 voters.
“Rural residents are not unwilling to seize the opportunities available, but they need a representative who can connect their needs with the relevant authorities,” he said in a joint statement today.
Jeffery said the proposed Bukit Arip seat could help residents navigate application procedures and ensure their concerns receive proper follow-up.
Sungai Bawang longhouse chief, Tuai Rumah Kunjan Anti, said some residents were uncertain about which agencies to approach or the documents required when applying for assistance.
Dalat and Mukah District Council Member, Isik Abu, meanwhile, said a smaller constituency could enable faster coordination on roads, infrastructure and public facilities.
He said implementing and monitoring projects became more difficult when communities were scattered across an extensive geographical area.
Sungai Bawang’s youth representative, Layang Anti, also hoped the proposal would improve rural youths’ access to technical and vocational education and training, digital skills and modern agriculture.
“These opportunities should not remain only on paper or be concentrated in urban centres,” he said.
The group urged the authorities to assess the proposal based on geographical size, population distribution, and the accessibility of public services.
They stressed that the proposed seat is intended to strengthen rural representation and promote more equitable development, rather than merely create a new position or administrative boundary.
