Bad roads used as rallying point against the Barisan

ULU BARAM: The potholes here are so huge and conditions of roads so bad that they can become a major election issue. 

The Baram parliamentary constituency in northern Sarawak is the second-largest parliamentary seat in the country after Kapit and probably is the only constituency where road woes are so acute. 

The Opposition Sarawak National Party (SNAP) is using this issue as its main rallying point against the Barisan in this predominantly Orang Ulu seat, which is slightly bigger than the state of Pahang. 

SNAP vice-president Kebing Wan is challenging incumbent MP Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan, who is senior vice-president of Barisan component party Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP). 

Horrendous: Such roads in the Baram parliamentaryconstituency in northern Sarawak are the mainelection issue.

Sagan said the Opposition parties were capitalising on the road woes to fish for votes. 

“They know these issues affect the local population to a great extent and they are trying to stir up sentiments against the Barisan. 

“However, we have been trying for years to improve the condition of the roads. 

“The people must realise that we need funds from the Federal Government. 

“The Works Ministry has promised to assist us with RM50mil and is trying to source for the funds as soon as possible,” he said. 

He said the the road conditions had worsened because of floods and constant heavy rain in the past few months 

He pointed out that the state had brought a lot of infrastructure development to Baram and many interior roads were opened up to link the people of Baram to the outside world. 

Kebing Wan had won on two occasions in Baram at state elections in 1996 and 1991 as an Independent. 

Baram, which has 25,000 voters, is a volatile seat at both parliamentary and state levels. It has changed hands many times. In the 1990 parliamentary polls, Barisan lost Baram to Harrison Ngau, a lawyer who stood as an Independent. Sagan beat Harrison to win back the seat for the Barisan in 1995. 

Kebing beat Barisan’s Robert Laing in the 1996 state elections for the Marudi state seat in Baram.  

In the 2001 state polls, Barisan’s Lihan Jok won back Marudi against Kebing. 

Baram is located 150km inland from Miri city.