Latest news with #MalaysianRoadRecordsInformationSystem
Borneo Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Aidel: State to take over former logging roads connecting rural settlements
File photo shows a logging road. KUCHING (May 23): The Sarawak government is planning to take over former logging roads, including wooden bridges, that connect settlements in rural areas such as Baleh constituency. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Datuk Aidel Lariwoo said the move is to ensure better and more organised road access for residents. 'So far, there are 5,297km of logging roads that connect various rural settlements in the state. 'Of that total, 3,293km are still active logging roads, while 2,004km are no longer in use,' he said in response to a question from Nicholas Kudi Jantai (GPS-Baleh) at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here today. Aidel said 312.8km of former logging roads have been successfully registered under the Village Roads category through the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris). 'The active logging roads stretch over 1,172.60km and unregistered roads remain under the responsibility of logging concession companies,' he explained. He said the state government is working to take over 188km of former logging roads, including the wooden bridges along those routes. He explained registering these former logging roads under Marris would allow the government to secure financial allocations for maintenance. 'This registration also allows the former logging roads to be classified either under State Roads (JRN) or Village Roads (JKPG), depending on their respective criteria and specifications,' he said. He emphasised that this initiative is a strategic move to enhance rural infrastructure and narrow the development gap between urban and interior areas. aidel lariwoo former logging road lead MARRIS
The Star
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
S'wak taking over former logging roads to improve rural links
State Deputy Infrastructure and Port Development Minister Datuk Aidel Lariwoo addressing the Sarawak Legislative Assembly during question time on Friday (May 23). KUCHING: The Sarawak government plans to take over former logging roads and wooden bridges to improve connectivity to rural settlements, says state Deputy Infrastructure and Port Development Minister Datuk Aidel Lariwoo. He said there was a total of 5,297km of logging roads connecting settlements in rural areas across the state. Of this, 3,293km are still active while 2,004km are no longer in use. "Former logging roads and wooden bridges, which are in urgent need of repair or of high importance, can be considered as proposed projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan," Aidel told Nicholas Kudi (GPS-Baleh) during question time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Friday (May 23). To a supplementary question, he said the state government was registering former logging roads under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris). "This will enable funds to be allocated under Marris for the maintenance of these roads, either as state roads or village roads according to their criteria and specifications," he added.
Borneo Post
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Long Aton residents urgently seek repairs for vital timber bridge
Screengrab from video shows the sorry state of the broken bridge leading to Long Aton in Ulu Tinjar, Baram. MIRI (May 7): Residents are calling on the authorities to urgently repair a vital timber bridge on the road to Long Aton settlement in Ulu Tinjar, which collapsed over a week ago. The collapse has jeopardised the movement of people and goods, with those affected including students and teachers at SK Long Aton and students studying at SMK Tinjar. The Kenyah settlement is located 210km from here. 'Nearly 300 people, including the villagers from the 48-door settlement are affected, and the broken bridge is now passable only by foot or motorcycle but impassable to four-wheel drive vehicles,' villager Gilbert Magok Lawrence told The Borneo Post. 'The condition of this bridge has worsened since February this year with erosion setting in. Now vehicles cannot pass through the road because the wooden logs under the bridge are also broken and have rotted away.' The school and village chiefs have raised the issue to the authorities, including Telang Usan assemblyman Datuk Dennis Ngau, who has pressed for expedited repairs. The broken bridge crosses Yang Paceik river, near Apau Nyaring village. Earlier this month, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the state government is aware of the infrastructure issues in Ulu Baram and acknowledged that the problems in the constituency are indeed significant. He will present a working paper outlining the procedures for maintaining these areas, including the many ageing and dilapidated bridges, during the next Cabinet meeting. Uggah has suggested that former logging roads in Ulu Baram that are currently classified as village roads should be upgraded to state roads to allow for higher maintenance funding under the Malaysian Road Records Information System. lead Long Aton timber bridge Ulu Tinjar
Borneo Post
29-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Uggah: Upgrade logging roads in Ulu Baram to state roads to improve maintenance funding
Uggah speaking to reporters after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony of Kampung Bulau bridge in Bekenu today. MIRI (April 29): Former logging roads in Ulu Baram that are currently classified as village roads should be upgraded to state roads to allow for higher maintenance funding under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris), said Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. Uggah, who is also Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, said the current Marris allocation for village roads is only RM1,000 per kilometre, compared to RM3,000 per kilometre for state roads. 'The main objective is to establish a robust and sustainable maintenance system. We have already implemented a pilot model where three companies have been appointed to maintain these former logging roads. 'Each company was allocated RM5 million, but there is still much that needs to be improved,' he said when met by reporters after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kampung Bulau Bridge in Bekenu today. Earlier, Uggah was asked on the state government's position regarding the issue of former logging roads and current logging roads in Ulu Baram, which have been criticised as being in critical condition, with many sections severely damaged or having broken bridges. Uggah, who is also the Infrastructure and Port Development Minister said the state government is aware of the infrastructure issues in Ulu Baram and acknowledged that the problems in the constituency are indeed significant. 'For us in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), we must find solutions. We have held discussions with elected representatives and departments such as the Public Works Department (JKR) and others to better understand the situation. 'As a result of these discussions, we will be presenting the Cabinet a working paper outlining the procedures for maintaining these areas, including the many ageing and dilapidated bridges,' he said. He stressed that it is time for the state government to act in addressing major infrastructure challenges, especially roads and bridges in the Baram area. Uggah said that the working paper is expected to be presented this June. 'If there is a Cabinet meeting in May, we will table it then, and subsequently, an announcement will be made,' he added. He noted that maintaining infrastructure in interior regions like Baram is particularly challenging due to hilly terrain, heavy rainfall, and frequent flooding. As such, he said that many timber bridges, originally built by logging companies, are now structurally unsound and pose safety risks to the rural communities who rely on them.
Borneo Post
28-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Uggah: Batang Rambungan Bridge set for early completion despite contractor change
KUCHING (April 28): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas has expressed confidence that the Batang Rambungan Bridge project will be completed nine months ahead of schedule despite a change in contractor. Speaking to reporters during a site visit to the bridge construction today, Uggah said the RM82 million project, spanning 560 metres across Batang Rambungan, is progressing well under the stewardship of the newly appointed rescue contractor, Titanium Project Management Sdn Bhd. 'This is a rescue project. Titanium is the rescue contractor we appointed to take over from the previous contractor. After our briefing today, their proposed completion date is July 2027, but based on today's discussion, we have directed them to complete it by July 2026 which is nine months earlier,' he said. Uggah noted that Titanium Project Management has a strong reputation and demonstrated capability, adding that most of the necessary construction materials are already on-site, with only the bridge cables yet to arrive. He also highlighted that sufficient workers are in place and the project is currently 2.7 per cent ahead of schedule, with physical completion at 5.26 per cent compared to the planned 2.52 per cent. 'Given their resources, experience, and financial strength, I am confident they will be able to meet the new target. We are optimistic, although we must still pray for favourable weather, which is a critical factor in construction works,' he said. He stressed that continuous monitoring will be carried out, with another site visit planned within the next month or two to oversee the project's progress. Acknowledging that the Batang Rambungan Bridge, at 560 metres, is relatively shorter compared to other major bridge projects like the 4.8-kilometre Batang Lupar Bridge, Uggah said its smaller scale further supports confidence in early completion. Uggah also explained that Titanium Project Management took over the project five months ago and first had to coordinate with the former contractor to ensure all previously completed structures could be properly integrated and continued. In another development, Uggah disclosed that the state government is working on a proposal to upgrade several village roads in Sarawak to state road status. This move, he said, would enable greater funding allocations for their maintenance and repairs under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) fund. He added that the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak is finalising a working paper for Cabinet approval, with preliminary figures estimating that about 7,000 kilometres of village roads across the state require upgrading or rehabilitation. 'We are serious about improving our rural infrastructure and have identified many damaged and poorly maintained roads. Once we get Cabinet approval, we will proceed with upgrading works,' he said. Uggah was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development Sarawak Datuk Aidel Lariwoo, Sarawak JKR director Dr Cassidy Morris and other officials during the visit.
