“Sarawak has a road network of about 30,000km with the 2,800km Pan Borneo Highway connecting most major towns and cities,” said Masing after kicking off a pilot integrated asset management system (IAMS) in the state capital yesterday.

The Borneo Post also quoted him as saying there were significant challenges in gathering accurate information on road conditions and assets such as signages, street lighting and barriers, among others.

Masing said that apart from these challenges, the conventional methods of surveying were time-consuming and costly, made worse by a dire lack of information that was available.

“The absence of information affects management and planning,” said Masing who is also Minister for Infrastructure Development and Transportation.

Nevertheless, he assured the people that the state government had embarked on initiatives “despite the challenges” in infrastructure development and transportation.

“We will continue to improve the road network in the state as the network is essential for socio-economic development,” said Masing.

He expressed confidence the road network would “emerge” by 2030, the year Sarawak was expected to be re-classified as a high income state.

Under the state government’s Socio-Economic Transformation Plan, Sarawak expects an average 6.5 per cent annual growth between now and 2030.

The IAMS, an initiative by Techninier Sdn Bhd – based on advanced information and communication technologies – is about “modernising and increasing efficiency in asset management”.