MIRI – The Sarawak Government will study a proposal to develop an approximately 200-kilometre road network using existing logging roads to improve access between the Baram hinterland and the state’s 3M2L major road project.
Sarawak Premier (caretaker) Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg said the proposal was submitted by Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala.
The proposed route could provide an additional connection to the 142-kilometre 3M2L road network, which is intended to strengthen transportation links between Miri, Marudi and the interior areas of Baram.
However, the Premier said the proposal would require further assessment and detailed planning before the government could determine whether it should proceed.
He said the study would need to consider the suitability of existing logging roads, proposed alignments, connectivity requirements and the types of infrastructure needed to support the development.
“The proposal involves looking at existing logging roads. Ultimately, this could serve as a route connecting to the 142-kilometre 3M2L main road network. The proposed road itself spans approximately 200 kilometres,” he said.
“We need to plan properly regarding road connectivity and the types of roads that should be constructed,” he added.
He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Cultural Centre of the Federation of Orang Ulu Associations of Sarawak, Malaysia (FORUM) in Miri on Saturday, November 7.
The Premier described the proposal as a potentially useful approach to improving access to remote communities, noting that better road connections could create opportunities for residents to participate in additional economic activities.
He said road development in Baram should not be viewed solely as a transportation initiative, but also as an investment that could support wider economic development in the region.
“I believe this is a good proposal because it will open up the area for economic activities,” he said.
Among the potential opportunities identified were activities associated with forest conservation and carbon trading, which are consistent with Sarawak’s broader sustainable development direction.
The Premier indicated that improved accessibility could allow communities in the interior to explore economic opportunities linked to local resources while supporting development beyond traditional economic activities.
Earlier in his address, he highlighted the state government’s ongoing focus on the 3M2L road project, which involves an estimated investment of RM3.8 billion.
The project covers three key connections: Miri to Marudi, Marudi to Mulu and Kuala Melinau, and Long Panai to Long Lama. Together, these routes are intended to improve connectivity between major settlements and communities in the Baram interior.
The proposed additional 200-kilometre network would complement the broader infrastructure development if its feasibility is established. Its potential use of existing logging roads could also form part of the government’s assessment of possible routes and construction requirements.
The Premier stressed the importance of considering the long-term economic benefits of major infrastructure investments, particularly in areas where limited road access has affected the movement of people, goods and services.
He expressed confidence that a more extensive road network would give interior communities greater opportunities to utilise available resources, develop new economic activities and improve their socio-economic circumstances.
For now, the 200-kilometre proposal remains subject to further examination, with route suitability, infrastructure standards and connectivity among the key matters requiring consideration before any implementation decision is made.
The proposed study reflects the Sarawak Government’s wider efforts to improve rural accessibility while exploring how infrastructure development can support economic participation and sustainable growth in the state’s interior regions. â Sarawak Daily
