Govt sets up committee to fast-track rural development projects in Sarawak

New Straits Times

6 days ago

BETONG: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has set up a Project Monitoring and Coordination Committee, chaired by its Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang, to ensure smoother implementation of rural development projects in Sarawak.
Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the committee was formed after the ministry identified delays and technical issues affecting several projects, including problems related to land status.
"The establishment of this committee was the result of a ministry-level decision, following the discovery that several projects were facing implementation challenges, particularly involving unresolved land ownership or status issues," he said.
He was speaking to the media after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a road from Kampung Kupang to Simpang Jalan Bajau in Rumah Rengan, Saratok, today.
He said coordination between federal and state agencies was crucial to expedite the implementation of projects, especially those involving allocations of less than RM50 million.
"As decided by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, projects worth less than RM50 million will be handed over to the state government for implementation.
"This requires close coordination and we at the ministry will continue to provide full support to the state government in its implementation," he said.
Under the committee, Zahid said the scope of work for projects being implemented in Sarawak which currently cannot be changed due to several constraints will be done under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
"Currently, this is under the responsibility of the state government and although we have several constraints to change the scope, it is not impossible in the 13MP if we can discuss in detail the joint implementation between the state government and the federal government," he said.
Reviewing the infrastructure development in Sarawak, he praised the state government's initiative in building coastal roads which not only connect the route to the Pan Borneo Highway but also play an important role in connecting longhouses and traditional villages.
One of the areas of responsibility for this coordination committee is to build a road connecting longhouses and traditional villages so that we do not face what is called denial syndrome by various parties, but it is better for the benefit of the people to do this coordination," he added.
"This is also part of the ministry's responsibility and this is the main role of this coordination committee, which is to prevent the existence of 'denial syndrome' among stakeholders," he said.
He added that effective coordination will ensure that the planned development truly benefits the people, especially in the interior areas.
Meanwhile, the construction of the road involves upgrading the existing main road connecting Kampung Kupang and Simpang Jalan Bajau, from a gravel road to a paved road according to the JKRR2 Standard, with an estimated length of 16.9 kilometres.
It also involves upgrading the existing connecting road to the JKRR1 standard leading to the school and longhouse, namely: Jalan Cabang 1 to SK Sungai Entebu, 86 metres long, Jalan Cabang 2 to Rumah Anau, 86 metres long 100 metres, Jalan Cabang 3 to Rumah Lakon, 1,175 metres long, Jalan Cabang 4 to Rumah Rabiah, 1,646 metres long, construction of five reinforced concrete bridges, drainage systems, culverts, road pavement and shoulder as well as installation of road signs and road fixtures.
The project, which began in January for RM112.9 million, is expected to be completed in September 2027.