BINTANGOR, June 24 — The state government will build 5,000 kilometres of roads to link remote and unconnected longhouses throughout the state by 2030, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said today.

He said the state Ministry of Infrastructure and Port Development is in the final process of identifying these longhouses and villages that are presently not connected by roads.

"This will be a very costly exercise, but our Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg has his own ways of getting funds needed to build more roads,” he said at the unity Gawai celebration jointly organised by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS) and the Semop Constituency Service Centre at Mupong near here.

He said 70 per cent of the RM6.8 billion allocation under the state development budget is dedicated to developing rural areas.

Uggah said the state government is in the midst of studying the development and functions of all five ports in the state.

He said the objective is to merge the five port authorities under a single central port agency to streamline and enhance their operations and profitability.

He also urged longhouse chiefs and village headmen to work closely with their respective elected representatives of the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to sort out any problems or bottlenecks encountered to ensure the implementation of any programmes in their area are not affected.

He said they should also communicate the needs and aspirations of the longhouse residents and villagers to the elected representatives.