About 2,700 kilometres of logging roads in Baram interior identified by state government for take over and improvement

KUCHING, May 13 2026: Approximately 2,700 kilometres of logging roads in Baram interior have been identified by the state government for take over and improvement, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Gerawat Gala revealed.

 

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg (seated, centre) with the Orang Ulu community leaders

He said the logging roads have been serving as vital access routes for residents in remote areas.

He said the move will enable the roads to be maintained, repaired and upgraded in phases using MARRIS (Sistem Maklumat Rekod-Rekod Jalan Raya Malaysia) funds allocated by the federal government.

“We are deeply grateful when the premier informed us that the Sarawak government has decided to take over all logging roads in the state involving more than 7,000 kilometres.

“Of that total, 2,700 kilometres are located in the Baram Division. Once these roads are gazetted as state roads, we become eligible to receive MARRIS funding for phased maintenance, repairs and upgrading works,” he said.

He said this after leading a courtesy visit involving 27 Orang Ulu community leaders and village chiefs from several sub-districts in Baram together with the Sarawak Kelabit Association on Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) complex today.

At the same time, Gerawat said the communities also conveyed their appreciation to the Premier of Sarawak and the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Government for various development initiatives implemented in Bario, including 24-hour electricity supply, telecommunications and internet connectivity, as well as clean water supply.

He added that among the key requests submitted to the Sarawak Premier was the upgrading of the logging road stretching from Lapok Town to Bario, which connects more than 100 longhouses in the interior.

In addition, the Kelabit community also appealed for the enhancing of the Bario rice industry through modernisation and mechanisation to enhance production output of the specialty rice, which is still largely cultivated using traditional methods.

The Mulu Assemblyman said the premier also shared several modern approaches currently being implemented in paddy cultivation projects elsewhere in Sarawak that have significantly increased production yields.

At the same time, the Kelabit community also submitted a request for the creation of a Temenggong position for the Kelabit community, similar to other Orang Ulu minority communities including the Lun Bawang, Bisaya and Penan communities.