MIRI – Heavy vehicles frequenting Sarawak’s interior have taken a toll on its roads.
These vehicles, which are used by loggers and those in the plantation sector can cause the badly damaged roads to cave in, said environmental and social activist Willie Kajan.
“The weather is getting bad in the rural areas. Heavy rain happens very often now, especially at night.
“In areas where there are hillslopes, there are signs of erosion due to earth movement caused by heavy rain.
“Roads can crack and cave in suddenly caused by daily usage, by logging and plantation trucks.
“There are more vehicles plying the rural roads now, most likely due to preparations by politicians for the coming state elections.
“We can expect more road problems if the rain worsens,” he told The Vibes today.
Kajan, who is a local native in Mulu, Baram district, said that the sudden collapse of a key rural link road yesterday has affected some 10,000 natives living in upper Baram.
Yesterday, a key road linking the rural frontiers of Baram district collapsed, affecting land communication for the interior natives of several populated localities.
Villager Dominic Kallang had alerted Parti Keadilan Rakyat Baram chief Roland Engan about the incident, which occurred at KM12 Jalan Samling, some 10km from Lapok town.
The entire hillside had also caved in, to the deep ravine on the side.
The road is the main land connection with Miri City, which is about four hours by land (some 200km away).
A logging company operating there has opened an access road to divert people and vehicles away from the collapsed site. – The Vibes, November 11, 2021
