Dato Gerawat Gala
MIRI (July 7): The Forest Concession Area (Rehabilitation and Development) Fund is a dwarf in comparison with the huge amount of development funds allocated by the state government through its agencies for rural development in Sarawak.
Mulu assemblyman Dato Gerawat Gala said this yesterday in response to the statement by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Baram chairman Roland Engan, who called for the use of the Forest Concession Area Fund to improve healthcare services and road access in Baram, Limbang, Lawas, Hulu Rejang and Selangau – among other rural areas in Sarawak.
Gerawat said the development strategy of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS)-led state government has always been rural-focused, as demonstrated by the allocation of more than 60 per cent of the state’s annual development budget for rural development.
Towards this end, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg had set up the Highland Development Agency (HDA), Upper Rejang Development Agency (Urda) and Northern Region Development Agency (NRDA), and had approved a record RM4.5 billion to accelerate the implementation of basic infrastructures in the rural areas including decent roads, as well as clean water and electricity supply, he pointed out.
Gerawat, who is also HDA chairman, said RM1.5 billion had been allocated for 30 road upgrading projects involving a total of 370km of former logging roads, 20 clean water supply projects and two electricity supply projects in Baram.
These excluded the proposed Miri-Marudi-Long Panai-Long Terawan-Kuala Malinau road – estimated to cost more than RM1 billion, he added.
“Never before has Baram been given so much development allocation as the GPS-led government recognises the need to develop our basic infrastructures in Baram like other rural areas,” said Gerawat.
All these infrastructure projects added to the many other development projects costing millions implemented by the GPS-led government through agencies such as Public Works Department (JKR), Sarawak Energy Bhd, Rural Water Supply Department, Agriculture Department, Drainage and Irrigation Department, Sarawak Multimedia Agency, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, as well as the Resident’s and district offices and the district councils, he pointed out.
Gerawat argued that asking the government to improve rural healthcare facilities and build or repair rural roads using funds from the forest concession area fund would ‘actually be self-limiting and minimal’.
“The amount required to build and improve rural roads and other basic infrastructures including health facilities far exceeds whatever amount that the forest concession fund can disburse, versus the amount given to HDA, Urda and NRDA and the other government agencies,” he added.
Gerawat also pointed out that the forest concession fund had spent RM53.7 million for 393 projects ranging from clean water supply, construction of longhouses, educational assistance, electricity supply, service centres, houses of worship and others in the rural areas – and it would continue to do so.
“The clinics and health services in the rural areas under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health in Kuala Lumpur and the facilities at these clinics have been improved over time and will continue to be improved in the future.
“The clinics in Baram are currently operating as Covid-19 vaccination centres and have proven to cope comfortably with the demand of rural needs,” he said.