NEW Works Minister Baru Bian could face undue or even unrealistic pressure to meet the expectations of his rural supporters, according to experts and electorates in his constituency.

After winning on promises that Pakatan Harapan (PH) is better than Barisan Nasional, hopes are high among supporters in Limbang and Baru’s hometown of Lawas that their long-awaited infrastructure needs could now be met.

They include basic necessities such as roads, water, electricity and the repairing of dilapidated schools and clinics.

A doctor in Limbang told The Malaysian Insight that he had been hearing from many people that they expect Baru to make drastic improvements.

“People in general expect that he will get the Pan Borneo (highway) going and rural roads will be built or improved.

“Plus, town folks now expect problems in the town will improve overnight,” Dr Lau Liak Koi said.

The Pan Borneo Highway is a 2,083km highway connecting Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei.

The RM16 billion highway, which passes through Limbang and Lawas, is the costliest infrastructure project in Sarawak approved by the previous Barisan Nasional federal government.

It has its end points in the coastal town of Sematan in the southwest end of Sarawak and Serudong in the northeast end of Sabah.

Dr Lau said besides better roads, bridges and schools, Baru also has to deal with failed and delayed projects of the previous administration.

The private medical practitioner, whose clinic is at Main Bazaar, said apart from the expectation of more sealed quality roads, bridges and schools in the rural hinterland, he also foresees Baru will be saddled with “lots of carried forward baggage”, referring to failed and delayed projects of the previous BN government.

“He will be busy fighting fires,” said the private practitioner, whose clinic is at Main Bazaar.

Baru won the parliamentary seat of Selangau, a Dayak seat in central Sarawak, but his home turf is in Limbang and Lawas in the northern part of the state.

Lawas, the state’s northernmost district, is a strip of territory sandwiched between the Temburong district of Brunei and Sabah, cutting it off from the rest of Sarawak.

Political analyst James Chin concurred with Dr Lau’s assessment that “Baru will be carrying a very heavy burden as the only minister from Sarawak”.

“Not only must he design programmes to win over the rural Dayak voters to PH, anything related to Sarawak will end up on his desk,” the director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania said.

Chin said the expectations on him by people from Sarawak will be “tremendous”.

“Sarawak’s rural voters will now think they can get instant road and infrastructure.

“The reality is that land is still a state matter, so whatever he wants to do, he must factor in GPS politicians,” Chin said referring to the state’s ruling coalition Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

Since winning the Selangau seat in the May 9 election, Baru, who is also assemblyman for the rural seat of Ba Kelalan, is a celebrated figure in that part of Sarawak.

His swearing-in was closely watched by his most ardent supporters, though many were disappointed that they were not informed that Baru’s first day in office, yesterday, was live-streamed on the ministry’s Facebook account.

One who did watch was Gituen Labung, Baru’s first cousin who helped manage his Lawas service centre.

“Yesterday (Monday), I took half (a) day (off) from office just to watch the swearing-in. I stood up in excitement when they announced his name.

“Today, I watched the FB live streaming. Very impressive.”

Gituen watched Baru getting the hang of his new office with a friend Eunice Ding. – July 4, 2018.