Local govt should apologise for failing in its public duty

Why did it take a video to expose the local authority's shoddy maintenance of a bridge that has put the lives of those in the area at risk?

Why does the local authority become defensive when a picture of its shoddy infrastructure goes viral on social media? Why does the local MP or assemblyman only make a press statement to defend his lack of action when he failed to serve the community?

Parents living in towns and cities use public transport, their own cars, or hired buses to ferry their children to and from school.

In the villages, rural and Orang Asli communities, children walk to school and some have to traverse bridges to make their way to school. If the roads are in good condition, then all is fine. More often than not, the roads are just dirt roads, which become dusty paths in hot weather or muddy pools during the rainy season.

Bridges are not well maintained and if the cables wear out, or the concrete foundations are washed away during floods, the whole community can be isolated or have to resort to other means to cross the river.

When Abdul Jalil Sulaiman accompanied his son to cross a broken hanging “bridge” at Kampung Pamah Aur in Bukit Betong, Kuala Lipis, Lipis, in Pahang, his wife, Siti Zaharah Othman took a video of her husband and son clinging to the bridge as they crossed the river. Her son’s school was located on the other bank.

When the video clip went viral, with over 1.5 million views and over 40,000 shares the following day, Abdul Jalil was criticised for risking both his and his son’s life while crossing the bridge.

He was subsequently visited by local Jelai assemblyman Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, whom we later see seated beside a smiling father and son in another video.

Wan Rosdy had visited Abdul Jalil to explain that the bridge would soon be repaired. The assemblyman advised Abdul Jalil to “prioritise safety” and told him that there were alternative methods to take his son to school such as boats or a long trek to another crossing.

Whilst it is correct that Abdul Jalil risked the lives of himself and his son, one must question why the local authority has waited for one year to repair the bridge?

The bridge was damaged during the floods which hit Pahang in 2016. Surely the authorities understand that the bridge is also a vital lifeline for the villagers. Why did it take a video to expose the local authority’s shoddy maintenance practices? How many other bridges, roads and other bits of public infrastructure are also broken?

Moreover, why should Abdul Jalil and his wife, apologise for making the video clip? They may have been foolish and risked their lives but the end result is that they got the desired publicity and a public affirmation that the Public Works Department (PWD) will carry out the work within a few days.

Perhaps, another video is in the pipeline. If the PWD fails to turn up and mend the bridge, Siti Zaharah and her husband will have to video the assemblyman making an apology for not fulfilling his promise.

One political cynic said, “This is an election year. Do not be surprised if the repairs that should have been completed last year have been postponed to nearer GE14, so that the government is seen in a good light.”

Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist.