How can the Forest Concession Area Fund address infrastructure decay in rural Sarawak?

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The Forest Concession Area Fund Can Address Rural Sarawak's Infrastructure Decay Through Targeted Rehabilitation

The Sarawak government is urged to leverage the Forest Concession Area (Rehabilitation and Development) Fund to address the critical decay of infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, that serve villages situated within forest concession areas. This fund, established under the Forest Concession Area (Rehabilitation and Development) Fund Ordinance 1985, is intended to facilitate the upgrading and improvement of essential infrastructure and amenities for the benefit of local communities, especially native populations, while also aiming to alleviate poverty and hardship. The pressing need for such interventions is underscored by the dangerous conditions faced by residents in areas like Ulu Baram, where damaged access routes pose significant risks to daily life and safety.
Fund Objectives Support Infrastructure Upgrades

The Forest Concession Area (Rehabilitation and Development) Fund Ordinance 1985 explicitly outlines objectives that directly align with the repair of decaying rural infrastructure. These objectives include the upgrading, improvement, or provision of infrastructure, public utilities, and social or communal amenities. Such provisions are meant to benefit communities, particularly native groups residing within or near forest concession areas, thereby enhancing their well-being and addressing socio-economic challenges.
Urgent Need for Connectivity in Ulu Baram Villages

Villages such as Long Silat and Long Makabar in Ulu Baram are located within forest concession areas and are in dire need of urgent repairs to their access roads and bridges. The Sarawak government, acting through the Forest Concession Area Board, has the mandate to rehabilitate essential infrastructure like bridges, culverts, and roads in these locations to restore vital connectivity. Failure to maintain these access routes is unacceptable, especially when such neglect directly endangers lives.
Tragic Incident Highlights Risks of Unmaintained Infrastructure

A recent tragic incident on April 13 at Sungai Sengayan exemplifies the severe risks posed by unmaintained infrastructure. A father and daughter drowned when their vehicle was swept away while crossing the river, a crossing that has become perilous due to the collapse of the Sungai Sengayan logging bridge. This bridge has reportedly been damaged for nearly two years, forcing locals, including school staff and healthcare workers, to risk their lives daily to access their communities and workplaces.

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How can the Forest Concession Area Fund address infrastructure decay in rural Sarawak?

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