Costly journeys: Ba’Kelalan rep wants mobile UTC for remote highlands to ease govt services access

Baru Bian speaks during the debate on the Sarawak Budget 2027 Supply Bill at the State Legislative Assembly on Oct 14,2026. Photo: JaPEN Sarawak

By Christine T

KUCHING, Oct 14: Ba’Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian proposes the establishment of a mobile Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) to bring essential agencies directly to rural villages in Ba’Kelalan’s remote highlands.

Debating the Sarawak Budget 2027 Supply Bill at the State Legislative Assembly today, he pointed out that residents in Ba’Kelalan’s remote highland communities should no longer have to make arduous and expensive journeys to Lawas, Limbang or Miri for basic government services.

As such, he urged for the development of a Mini or Mobile UTC for remote Lawas through scheduled outreach visits, bringing agencies including the National Registration Department (JPN), Welfare Department, Inland Revenue Board, Road Transport Department, Agriculture Department and Land and Survey Department to central villages.

The visits would be announced in advance to allow residents to prepare their applications and access the services without making costly journeys to towns outside their communities.

Baru said the proposal aligned with the State government’s ninth strategic thrust under Budget 2027, which focuses on institutionalising high-performance government.

He noted residents of Long Sukang, Long Semadoh and Ba’Kelalan faced difficulties accessing services such as identity card renewals, welfare applications and land-related matters.

While digitalisation could improve access to public services, he said it could not fully replace physical government presence in areas such as Ba’Kelalan, where internet connectivity remained a challenge.

“High-performance government does not only mean online. In Ba’Kelalan where internet stability is still a challenge, it must also mean physical presence,” he said.

He described a mobile UTC as a rural complement to e-government, saying it could reduce costs for residents and build public trust in government services.

Baru also urged the government to consider the proposal under its results-based budgeting approach, which requires public spending to deliver meaningful outcomes.

He suggested that a successful pilot programme in Lawas could serve as a model for other remote communities across Sarawak.

Under Budget 2027, the Premier had announced that 62 per cent of government services had been digitalised, with RM24 million allocated for 65 digital projects aimed at increasing the figure to 80 per cent by 2027 and achieving 100 per cent end-to-end digital government by 2030.

The budget also allocated RM347 million for the construction and upgrading of government offices, quarters and Integrated Administration Centres, alongside RM2.38 million for Civil Service Transformation.

Baru said these initiatives should be complemented by practical measures that ensure residents in remote areas could access essential government services regardless of their internet connectivity. —DayakDaily