Flood-prone gravel road in Baram serving 3,000 residents needs urgent upgrade, say locals

MIRI, Oct 30 — Baram residents are calling for urgent repairs and upgrading of the deteriorating gravel road linking Long Banyok, Long Ekang, Bawang Sibong (Lugan Sibong) and Sebubuh, which serves more than 3,000 people across eight villages and longhouse communities.

Peter Kallang, a Long Ekang resident and SAVE Rivers chairman, said a formal complaint was submitted to the state government on October 10.

“We have submitted a formal complaint calling for urgent repairs and upgrading of the road,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.

He added that 256 community members had signed an online petition seeking improvements to the road.

The road connects Long Banyok, Uma Akeh, Long Puak, Long Ekang, Bawang Sibong (Lugan Sibong), Rumah Jilan, Rumah Duri and Sebubuh.

Peter said the road provided Kayan, Kenyah and Iban communities with access to schools, clinics, government offices, markets, the airport, farms and other essential services.

However, its deteriorating condition had raised safety concerns for motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

“The worsening condition of the gravel road is increasingly hazardous to motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians,” he said.

According to Peter, several low-lying sections between Long Banyok, Long Ekang and Bawang Sibong were frequently flooded.

Residents are calling for these sections to be raised to reduce flooding and ensure safer access, especially during the rainy season.

Another major concern is the Sungai Layak crossing, where an earth-filled section has collapsed and is frequently submerged in water.

Peter said the collapse had forced motorists to use an alternative route that becomes slippery when wet.

“The alternative route is narrow, steep, muddy and dangerous, especially during the rainy season.

“We therefore call for the construction of a proper bridge at the crossing to ensure safer access for the communities,” he added.

He also highlighted concerns about the road near a Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) gas pipeline crossing, where potholes and unstable sections could hamper maintenance work.

He said further deterioration could damage pipeline facilities and pose safety risks, including potential gas leaks.

Petronas Gas had also been notified of the road conditions near the crossing.

Peter urged the relevant authorities to prioritise repairs and upgrading works, warning that delays could compromise residents’ safety, restrict access to essential services, hamper emergency response and disrupt daily economic activities.

In response, caretaker Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) and Highland Development Agency (HDA) deputy chairman Datuk Gerawat Gala said the road from the Long Lama road junction to Lugan Sibong had been upgraded by the Regional Corridor Development Authority (Recoda), with the works completed in December 2023.

“Upon completion in December 2023, the road was handed over to JKR (Public Works Department) for maintenance,” he said.

On residents’ calls to raise the level of low-lying sections and resurface the road with premix, Gerawat said such improvements would require additional funding as they were not included in the previous upgrading scope.

“Any plan to raise the level of certain sections of the road and resurface them with premix will depend on the availability of funding,” he said.

He added that further upgrading works, including the construction of bridges along the road, would require funding approval under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), the national development plan covering 2026 to 2030. —  The Borneo Post