KUCHING: Kapit District Council (KDC) recently paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, to discuss the challenges faced by the council in administering one of Sarawak’s largest and most remote district areas.
The delegation was led by KDC chairman Andy Lawrence, who brought to the Deputy Premier’s attention two key concerns — the council’s constrain annual councillor budget and a persistent shortage of technical staff.
KDC oversees a vast administrative area covering four districts: Kapit, Belaga, Bukit Mabong, and Song, as well as two sub-districts, Merit and Sungai Asap.
Spanning approximately 38,934 km² with a population of around 135,000, the council’s operational demands far exceed those of many smaller councils that receive a comparable allocation.
During the visit, the delegation presented a data-driven budget proposal based on a composite model weighing area coverage (60%), district complexity (25%), and population (15%).
The model aims to reflect the true cost of governing a remote region — one that involves extensive river and overland travel, overnight field operations, and service delivery to longhouse communities across multiple districts.
KDC hopes the courtesy visit will pave the way for a revised councillor budget that ensures fair and effective governance for the people of Kapit Division.
