Roland Engan
MIRI (July 5): Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak has called for funds under the Forest Concession Area Trust Fund (LKWKKH) to be used to improve the healthcare system in the rural parts of the state.
PKR Sarawak State Leadership Council vice-chairman Roland Engan said the funds should also be used to upgrade access roads to every village in these rural areas.
“It is understood that all villages in rural Sarawak such as those in Baram, Limbang, Hulu Rejang, Selangau and Lawas are within the timber concession areas.
“Among the objectives of this fund (LKWKKH) chaired by the Chief Minister, when it was set up in the 80s, was to improve the health system, road access system, agriculture and others,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
According to Roland, Sarawakians in rural areas appreciate the effort to combat Covid-19 through vaccination as well as the move to lessen the people’s burden by giving out food aid.
“But carrying out all these efforts can be challenging in the rural areas. This is because of the poor health system, communications system and road access system there.
“The people are trying their best to respond to the government’s effort in fighting Covid-19, but the relevant authority such as LKWKKH must also use part of its funds to help fight Covid-19 and improve their (rural folk) economy,” he stressed.
Roland added that villages in the rural areas had to rely on logging companies to maintain logging tracks leading to their villages and serving as public transport.
According to him, health clinics are located far from most villages where subsistence farming is still being actively carried out.
Therefore, he said PKR Sarawak was appealing to LKWKKH to act immediately and implement the initial objectives of its seting-up, which were to improve healthcare and road access, and also to boost agricultural activities.
“This would also close the gap for healthcare, transportation, telecommunication and economic systems for people in the rural parts of Sarawak,” he added.