Dr Madeline Berma
 
 

 
KUCHING: The state government should prioritise the construction of the Coastal Road Project (CRP) ahead of Light Rail Transit (LRT) as the rural-centric initiative will spur the economy of Sarawak to the maximum.

“This project must be implemented because it will open up economic opportunities and increase the income per capita of rural populace along the coastal road, reducing poverty incidence, balancing up regional development, developing regional the economy and its people, managing natural resources sustainably and speed up economic growth,” stressed economic analyst Dr Madeline Berma in an interview via WhatsApp yesterday.

She was responding to The Borneo Post’s front page news yesterday.
Madeline, who was entrusted by Rural and Regional Development Ministry to conduct research and develop the Malaysia Rural Economic Policy and had been to almost every nook and corner of remote Malaysia, lamented that Sarawak roads are very poor in accessibility and quality.

“This network of roads under CRP is very important because there are more than 5,000 settlements throughout Sarawak, and a big concentration of people in the coastal areas. This project will definitely benefit the Bumiputera community,” she stressed.

Madeline also stressed that this network of roads spanning 963km would link up all the coastal areas in Sarawak from Lundu and Sematan to Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman and Betong, Sarikei and Bintangor, Mukah, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang and Lawas.

“They will be interlinked by coastal roads and Pan Borneo (Highway),” she said. Madeline stressed that coastal roads are more important because they would serve the majority of coastal populace, whereas the LRT would only serve the urban population.

“Furthermore, urban populace have (more) options,” she pointed out.
She also confirmed that her research on rural development in Sarawak and Sabah for the previous government would still be in use.

“Yes, it is very relevant. I have been invited to share with the new government.”
On the call by newly-appointed Economic Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali for Gawai Dayak to be made a national holiday, Madeline said the suggestion needed to be further discussed as too many holidays would affect the country’s productivity.

“According to productivity report for 2016 and 2017, Malaysia recorded labour productivity growth of 3.5 per cent at RM78,218 in 2017,” she said.

She pointed out that it would be very difficult for the country to achieve the target of RM92,300 by 2020 as outlined under the 11th Malaysia Plan – if the country’s leadership decided to further increase the number of national holidays.

Azmin made the call when he was Menteri Besar of Selangor in his official 2016 Gawai message, posted by PKR Sarawak and was being recycled by his supporters to remind him that he is now in the position to make his own wish a reality.