KINABATANGAN: Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, Naim Moktar
(pic), has pledged to continue efforts to improve rural road access, which is considered critical, especially for communities dependent on river and sea resources.
He said that a recent trip to Karamuak highlighted the poor condition of the roads, which remains a major challenge to the residents’ daily lives.
He expressed his commitment to ensure that all rural areas have better land access, building on initiatives by the previous representative, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
“Among the projects that are ongoing or have been completed are Jalan Sinaron, Jalan Penanga, and the construction of Jalan Karamuak. After basic infrastructure is in place, the next challenge is to improve the local economy, particularly for river and sea fishermen who often face difficulties marketing their catch and dealing with unstable prices,” he said.
He added that one of the key commitments in his manifesto is to establish collection centres for river and sea produce at the village level.
“These facilities aim to coordinate, store, and market the community’s produce to larger and more competitive markets,” he said.
He believes that this initiative will not only increase the selling value of the produce but also help residents earn far better returns compared to relying on local middlemen.
“If I am given the mandate, I will ensure that villagers’ produce can be marketed more widely so they can enjoy better income,” he said.
