The road conditions in Sarawak are in "such an appalling state" that they could pose a risk to lives and vehicles, lamented Ba'Kelalan state representative Baru Bian.

"I have been travelling in Ba'Kelalan quite frequently in the recent months and I have experienced the rapid deterioration of the roads with each visit," he said in a statement today.

The trip down the stretch of road from Long Semadoh to Ba'Kelalan used to take one and a half hours, but now it takes three hours due to the terrible conditions of the road, he lamented.

"This stretch of road is without doubt the "hole-iest" road in Sarawak. I have even seen a buffalo wallowing in the big muddy pothole on the road," he said.

The Long Luping-Long Semadoh road is in a similar condition, he added.

The terrible conditions of these roads are putting lives at risk when people travel on them, he warned.

He also expressed concern that the vehicles are taking extreme punishment while travelling on these roads, and will need constant repairs.

The Public Works Department (JKR) is responsible for the maintenance of the road, and as such, he said, it should have a regular schedule of repair to prevent roads from falling into such deplorable conditions.

With the monsoon season approaching, he urged JKR to make urgent repairs now, as he expects the road conditions to deteriorate further.

"The people of rural Sarawak have had to put up with sub-standard roads for decades.

"In order to promote local agriculture activities and stimulate the rural economies, proper road infrastructure is crucial.

"When will we be able to enjoy smooth and uneventful road journeys which are taken for granted by those living in West Malaysia?" he asked.