MIRI – A key bridge serving thousands of native communities such as the Penan and Kenyah across Sg Belaga in the Long Urun region deep in Sarawak is on the verge of collapse following recent flash floods.
Urging the Public Works Department (PWD) to urgently repair the structure, Belaga-based social activist Harry Wing said the villagers were concerned as pieces of thick planks used to build the 100-m bridge have started cracking.
Speaking to The Vibes today, Wing said villagers living in the Long Urun region were worried they would be totally cut off from the outside world if the state authorities and the PWD fail to repair the bridge in due time.
“That bridge was built decades ago by timber logging operators to facilitate harvesting of logs in central Belaga district,” he said.
“The timber loggers had left after clearing much of the forests there and left the bridge just like that.
“The state authorities and the local politicians failed to maintain the bridge or upgrade it.”
Wing added that the current bridge structure had been battered by flash floods, swift river currents and heavy daily usage by those working in nearby plantations.
The bridge is a key link for the Penan and Kenyah natives living in Long Urun and the upper reaches of Sg Belaga.
“Big pieces of planks are cracking up now, and a portion of the floor foundation is breaking apart,” he said.
“If there is another major flood, the structure could be washed away.”
He urged the state assemblyman and local MP to pressure the PWD to carry out urgent repairs.
“Do not wait any longer as the rain spell is getting frequent in the interior regions,” he stressed.
Issues involving dilapidated bridges and roads throughout rural parts of Sarawak have become common in the state.
On August 8, it was reported that the Sg Pesu Jelalong bridge located in the upper reaches of the Murum Dam was due to collapse.
Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui had then called on the state authorities to check on the situation and carry out urgent repairs before the whole structure collapses.
Abun had said state government politicians need to be aware of what is happening in the deep interior as there are tens of thousands of natives facing daily woes with regard to “koyak” (damaged) roads and bridges. – The Vibes, August 17, 2022
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