MARUDI: Sarawak’s push to expand rural infrastructure gathered pace on Sunday with the launch of a RM45.2 million road upgrade here.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ulu Teru road project, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the initiative would improve access to essential services and support economic activity among interior communities that have historically relied on limited and often unreliable road networks.
The 23.4-kilometre project, linking communities in Ulu Teru to nearby towns, forms part of a wider state-led effort to address long-standing infrastructure gaps in rural Sarawak.
Construction began in December 2025 and is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
The project involves upgrading 21.5 kilometres of existing road and constructing 1.9 kilometres of new alignment, alongside six steel bridges, one concrete bridge, and supporting drainage and road safety systems.
About 2,500 residents in 14 longhouses would benefit directly, with improved links also expected to serve a wider population of more than 5,000 people in surrounding areas including Sungai Nat, Sungai Lamah and Bukit Limau.
For many residents, the upgrade is expected to reduce reliance on a single access route and improve year-round connectivity, particularly during periods of heavy rain when existing road conditions can deteriorate.
The Ulu Teru project is one of 52 infrastructure projects approved for Marudi district, with total allocations exceeding RM722 million.
Of these, 25 have been completed, four are under construction, and the remainder are in various stages of procurement.
Such projects are central to the Sarawak government’s rural development strategy, where improved connectivity is seen as key to integrating remote economies with larger markets.
At the same time, Uggah signalled stricter enforcement on project delivery, warning contractors against delays and substandard work.
He said the state government would not tolerate missed deadlines, adding that closer monitoring by implementing agencies, including more frequent site inspections, would be required to ensure projects remain on schedule.
Project delays have been a recurring concern in infrastructure delivery across Malaysia, particularly in remote areas where terrain and logistics can complicate execution.
The Sarawak administration has in recent years increased spending on infrastructure as part of its Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030, which prioritises connectivity, income growth and balanced regional development.
Uggah also urged continued public support for the state government, linking development progress to political stability.
