KAPIT – Rural development in Kapit should combine infrastructure improvements with education, economic opportunities and community welfare to ensure residents benefit from progress, Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said.
Nanta said physical development and human capital investment needed to advance together so that rural communities would have better opportunities to improve their living standards and participate in economic activities.
Speaking at the opening of the Rural Community Mass Movement Programme (GEMA) 2026, organised by the Community Development Department (KEMAS) in Kapit on Sunday, he emphasised the importance of coordinating development efforts with the needs of local residents.
The Kapit Member of Parliament said successful implementation depended on cooperation among the government, local authorities, management agencies and the community. He said collaboration would help ensure projects were delivered effectively and addressed the priorities of the people they were intended to serve.
Nanta also stressed that development planning in Kapit needed to account for the area’s geographical conditions, landscape and the practical requirements of village communities. He said projects should be planned with these factors in mind to ensure the benefits reached residents and met local needs.
Rural infrastructure remains an important consideration in areas where geographical conditions can affect transport, access to services and the delivery of development projects.
However, Nanta’s remarks highlighted that roads and other physical facilities alone would not be sufficient without parallel efforts to strengthen education, skills and access to economic opportunities.
He said a balanced approach would help prevent rural communities from being left behind as development progressed. Investment in people, alongside improvements to physical infrastructure, was presented as an important part of enabling residents to benefit from wider development initiatives.
During the event, Nanta also announced a contribution of RM200,000 to Rumah Naga for roof repairs. The allocation is intended to address the building’s roofing needs, although further details on the repair schedule and implementation arrangements were not provided in the announcement.
The contribution was one of the specific forms of assistance highlighted during the programme, which brought together representatives from government, community development agencies and local leadership.
Nanta also disclosed that a six-kilometre road linking Sut to Kebiaw had been approved for construction. The project remains at the stage of land compensation payments, indicating that this process is still under way before the next stages of implementation can proceed.
The road project is a separate infrastructure initiative within the wider development context discussed at the event. Its progress will depend on the completion of the relevant land compensation arrangements and subsequent project procedures.
Improved road connectivity can be important for rural communities, particularly where access to essential services, markets and neighbouring settlements depends on road networks. Nevertheless, the announcement did not specify a construction start date or completion timeline for the Sut-Kebiaw road.
The GEMA 2026 opening ceremony also provided an opportunity to highlight the role of community development programmes in connecting public initiatives with local needs.
Such programmes can serve as platforms for engagement between residents, government agencies and community representatives on issues affecting rural livelihoods and wellbeing.
Among those present were Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang, Kapit Deputy Resident Robert Liman Deli, Works Minister’s political secretary Datuk Alvin Runggah Jimbun and KEMAS Sarawak deputy director Peggy Ann Iba Matu.
The development priorities outlined in Kapit placed infrastructure, human capital and community welfare within the same broader agenda.
Continued coordination among agencies and residents will remain relevant as approved projects advance and development initiatives are assessed against the needs of rural communities. – Sarawak Daily
