KUCHING: The Sarawak government is forking out billions of ringgit to take over abandoned logging roads in the state’s interior to upgrade them into public roads.
The state’s Public Works Department has identified 5,297km of logging roads, out of which 3,293km remain active and 2,004km no longer in use.
These logging roads were built by timber companies to facilitate the extraction of timber and transportation of logs from the concession areas.
However, as logging operations ended in certain areas, these companies also stopped maintaining the roads, even though they remained widely used by the villagers to commute between their settlements and towns.
Last week, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg reiterated the state government’s commitment to repair and upgrade these poorly maintained logging roads, and promised to turn them into public roads without any charges imposed on the road users.
His deputy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, also Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, heads a task force that oversees the upgrading of the roads, which have begun in stages.
Under a current exercise, these logging roads would be classified as state roads and registered under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) to enable regular maintenance allocations to be channelled in a more organised and sustainable manner.
In central Sarawak’s Kapit Division, where logging activities have been concentrated, about 1,673km of former logging roads have been identified, while 364km of such roads in the Murun constituency are currently under review.
In Bintulu, 302km of former logging roads and 295km of active logging roads have been earmarked for registration.
In May 2025, Uggah said the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development had approved RM988mil to fund the upgrading of 11 abandoned logging roads across Sarawak.
One of the projects in Sibu Division has been completed, while seven others are under implementation and the remaining three in pre-contract stage.
In northern Sarawak, 14 abandoned logging roads are being rehabilitated under a RM543mil funding plan.
The roads include those linking to the popular Ba’Kelalan highland and interior settlements.
Also in northern Sarawak, Abang Johari launched a RM3.8bil Miri-Marudi, Marudi-Mulu (Kuala Melinau) and Long Panai-Long Lama road project, dubbed MMMLL, last week.
MMMLL, which stretches 142km, would include nine major bridges and 14 minor bridges.
“The MMMLL route will boost tourism in northern Sarawak.
“Visitors to Sarawak will be able to drive from Miri to Mulu and experience the rich culture of Baram along the way,” he added.
Miri is the gateway to northern Sarawak, which is well-known for the magnificant caves in Mulu and Niah National Parks.
The premier said the MMMLL would be connected to the Northern Highway between Limbang and Lawas, currently being built.
The upgrading of the logging roads, scheduled for completion by 2030, would be one of the costliest and major infrastructure projects in Sarawak after Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway, Sarawak Coastal Road, Sarawak Second Trunk Road and Sarawak-Sabah Link Road.
The RM16bil Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway project, which stretches 786km from southern to northern Sarawak, is more than 99% completed under 11 work packages.
Uggah expects the 896km Sarawak Coastal Road project, expected to cost the government RM5.42bil, to be ready by 2027.
The coastal road linking Lundu-Sempadi in Kuching Division to Miri and passing through the Matu/Daro area in Mukah Division, is more than 80% completed.
The 225-km Sarawak Second Trunk Road project is due for completion by 2028.
The 425-km Sarawak-Sabah Link Road, which connects 14 major towns in Sarawak and Sabah and costing an estimated RM8.6bil, was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim two months ago.
