Tegulang-Lusong Laku travel to be cut from 6 to 2 hours with RM38 mln road works in Belaga

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 29: The arduous journey from the Tegulang junction to Lusong Laku, located upstream of the Murum River in Belaga district, is set to be dramatically shortened from six hours to just two once a series of road upgrading projects by the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak are completed.

In a statement on JKR Sarawak’s official social media, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the State government, through JKR, has committed RM38 million to implement 17 projects across Belaga, including Lusong Laku.

“The initiatives encompass road repair works and culvert replacement, with physical works slated to commence next month,” he said when addressing a community programme marking the conclusion of JKR Sarawak’s XPDC 2.0 at Murum on Thursday (Aug 28).

Uggah, who is also Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, highlighted the crucial role of former logging roads as lifelines for rural communities.

He stressed that these roads will be upgraded to state road status, enabling maintenance to be financed under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS), in line with the government’s policy of equitable development without leaving anyone behind.

Murum assemblyman Kennedy Chukpai Ugon, who also joined the expedition, expressed appreciation for JKR’s ground-level commitment, noting that the five-hour journey through the rough logging tracks demonstrated the principle of “walk the talk” in addressing rural realities.

“This is not just a promise, but a commitment by JKR Sarawak in line with the slogan ‘We Build For You’. Development for all, no one left behind. Together with JKR Sarawak, You Build For Us,” he said, adding that the experience strengthened his resolve to serve the people better.

Deputy Minister of Utility and Belaga assemblyman Datuk Liwan Lagang was also present.

With travel time expected to be cut by two-thirds upon completion, the initiative is set to bring significant benefits to upstream Murum communities, improving connectivity and opening new socio-economic opportunities.

JKR Sarawak reaffirmed its commitment to expanding the XPDC initiative to other rural areas to further strengthen infrastructure networks and uplift community well-being.

Meanwhile, JKR Sarawak director Ir Dr Cassidy Morris revealed that the upgrading of the logging road to the Tegulang Resettlement (Phase 5) in Kapit is progressing well.

“As of now, the project’s physical progress has reached 81.11 per cent and it is scheduled for full completion by December 2025,” he said, adding that the initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to provide more comfortable, safer and sustainable road access for local communities. — DayakDaily

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