Money spent but still no light

Villagers in Kampung Selamat, Kampung Simunul and Kampung Sri Jaya Mesra in Semporna are hoping that their assemblyman will give them street lights.

SEMPORNA: Three years ago, residents of three villagers near here were looking forward to having streets lights at the edge of the road leading to their homes after being in the dark for years.

The signs were promising and their wish seemed about to be fulfilled. A contractor erected over a hundred lamp posts along the sealed road stretching some 10km and the people waited.

Weeks of waiting turned to months and then years. Nothing happened.

Somewhere a connection was not made. No one knows where nor why.

But according to sources, plans, allocations and funds were approved and released.

A contractor said the cost and installation of each lamp post could have been between RM1,600 to RM1,700 excluding wiring and bulbs.

Apparently the work was discontinued before the project was completed.

Today, the road leading to Kampung Selamat, Kampung Simunul and Kampung Sri Jaya Mesra is shrouded in darkness every night.

Motorists say the area is pitch dark at night and it is a dangerous stretch to drive on. They have voiced their concerns several times but no one has paid any attention.

Mohd Saifullah Hisham who resides in Kampung Air Semporna 1, spoke about the matter recently.

“Several hundred lamp posts were erected along this road about three years ago but until today the authorities have not installed the lights,” Mohd Saifullah said.

Dirty Semporna

Residents here, he said, are still waiting for the day when the road will be lit up and hope the authorities particularly their elected representatives will walk the talk instead of making promises and forgetting about it the next day.

Another issue that has irritated residents of this seaside town is the failure by the authorities to keep Semporna town clean.

“The condition of the town has drawn negative remarks from both local and foreign visitors. It is filthy and stinks,” Saifullah said.

No one would have paid much attention to the filth in Semporna,if not for the fact that it is the main gateway to Sipadan island, an internationally renowned dive site that draws thousands from around the world.

Mohd Saifullah said the Semporna District Council, however seems to oblivious to the problem.

“They must act fast to tackle the problem. It is giving Semporna a bad name internationally,” he said.

[photo from sabahkinimirror.blogspot.com]