MIRI: The Sarawak government faces big challenges in building roads in the state’s interior areas.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said this was either because of the mountainous terrain like in the Baram region or in peat soil areas.
Uggah, who is also the Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, said this when officiating at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Marudi, Telang Usan and Mulu PBB branches meeting here on Saturday.
“This year we have spent RM150 million on road repairs including in rural areas affected by landslides. And landslides occur quite frequently in Baram areas as well,” he said.
“As we plan the end stage of the road development, we are always on the lookout for practical and latest technologies to build more lasting roads. Building road is not challenging but we want lasting roads for the people’s continuing benefits.
“So the state Public Works Department (PWD) will be holding an industrial building management seminar to look for the right technologies.
“There are a number of the new technologies. There is one that we plan to try which is building elevated roads particularly in highland and peat soil areas,” he added.
Meanwhile Uggah said the PWD had identified 24 major bridges that needed to be upgraded in the Baram areas.
“But we also want to upgrade the minor ones as well,” he said.
On the Highland Development Agency( HDA) of which he is the chairman, Uggah said it was overseeing 43 different projects, including 25 road projects, 17 water supply projects and one power supply project.
So far 16 had been completed, eight under construction and 19 under pre- contract stage.
He also commended Mulu assemblyman Datuk Gerawat Gala and Telang Usan assemblyman Datuk Dennis Ngau for always bringing up their people’s problems on infrastructural matters to him.
“They are both very active, hardworking and smart representatives,” he said.
Uggah, who is also PBB deputy president, reiterated his calls for PBB branches statewide to organise seminars for members to inform them of the various new assistances from the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to the people.
“Please always take care of your members and recruit new ones as well. PBB will remain very strong when its members are loyal and united and they keep on increasing,” he said.
At the function Dennis presented the branches 12 joint resolutions for the party convention in February next year.
They include calling for Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to retain his post as the party president uncontested.
The branches also called for the two deputy presidents, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan to retain their posts uncontested as well.
The other resolution was in giving their fullest support to Abang Johari in his efforts to get back Sarawak eroded rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
