Students dicing with danger - reps assure bridge repairs underway

 

Immediate action has been taken to repair the dilapidated suspension bridge used by students of SK Sibuga Besar to get to school, said the elected representatives in the area.

Both Bersatu's Libaran MP Zakaria Mohd Edris and Umno's Sungai Manila assemblyperson Mokran Ingkat said they have sent their officers to survey the situation at Kampung Nelayan, Sandakan, Sabah.

“My officers and I have already provided assistance to help repair the bridge today,” Zakaria said in a text message to Malaysiakini today.

Meanwhile, Mokran said they are already doing quick repairs to the bridge, but that the bridge will require more thorough repairs.

“For the moment, I think it is not quite safe because it is not only the wooden planks that are broken but some of the cables have snapped.

“We need to repair the whole bridge and we are already in the process of applying for government allocation.

“I expect it will take six months (to repair the whole bridge) but at the moment, we have implemented a temporary fix,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

Images of students from Kampung Nelayan having to cross the dilapidated suspension bridge to get to school attracted attention on social media since yesterday.

Some expressed concern for the students’ safety while others accused the local elected representatives of not performing their duties.

Mokran today estimated the full repairs to the suspension bridge will cost around RM250,000 to RM300,000 as it is a long suspension bridge spanning about 300m.

This is why they need to apply for government allocation to fully repair the bridge, which is a long and detailed process, he said.

Though they have carried out temporary repairs for the bridge, he urged parents to use a nearby tarred road to send their children to school for now.

“When the bridge was built, there were no roads connecting the areas, but now there is already a nice tar road. But people may be used to the bridge.

“If possible, I would like to urge the parents to use the tar road (to send their children to school) first and to use that bridge less often because I am worried.

“Though we fixed the bridge to provide access, I am worried about the safety if there are too many students on the bridge at one time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zakaria said the wooden planks at the suspension bridge have been replaced four times but they keep going missing.

It is suspected the planks are being stolen, he said, adding that there are slum houses near the bridge.

Mokran later told Malaysiakini that the Works Department will be sending officers to assess the safety of the bridge tomorrow.

If the bridge is found to be unsafe in their assessment, they will close it, he said.

Meanwhile, Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee said in a statement to Malaysiakini and New Straits Times that she has received numerous messages from concerned citizens about the safety of the students.

“Even though Kampung Nelayan is located in our neighbouring constituency in Libaran, it saddened me to see basic infrastructure in Sandakan, and Sabah in general, in such a bad condition.

“Immediate action is needed to make sure that the bridge is fixed or rebuilt as soon as possible before an accident happens to the children and villagers,” she said.

She also criticised the Sabah state government for its slow response to various critical issues such as this one.

“It is time for the government to prove their capability and urgency when dealing with critical issues affecting the lives and properties of the people,” she said. - Mkini