Unfinished bridge in Keningau forces students to scale water pipeline

 

Poor infrastructure in rural Sabah has come under the spotlight again as a video clip of a group of students in Keningau endangering themselves by crossing a river using a pipeline went viral.

Posted by a Facebook user Siti Hafizah Leezah, she stated in a separate post that the village was promised a new bridge, to be built by April.

“Flovia Ng (state assemblyperson for Tulid) had visited the location and promised that a suspension bridge would be built by April this year.

“We, as residents, were relieved and happy to hear her promise, but after seven months, there have been no signs of construction,” said Siti on Facebook.

Ng, when contacted by New Straits Times, said she was aware of the problem and confirmed there was no bridge in the area.

She said she was looking into the matter seriously to ensure the welfare of the people in her constituency.

The dilapidated suspension bridge in Kampung Nelayan, Sandakan

Back in January, images of students of SK Sibuga Besar in Sandakan having to cross a dilapidated suspension bridge to go to school attracted attention on social media, with netizens expressing concern for the safety of the students.

The bridge has since been shut down as officers from the Works Department, as well as engineers from the Sandakan City Council, found the bridge to be unsafe for use.

Students on a cramped boat crossing Sungai Bongkol

On Jan 13, a Facebook page called "A Korn Korn" posted images of primary school students in uniform on a cramped boat, without life jackets.

The photographs showed more than 20 students from Kampung Pituru Timbang Taun in Kota Marudu, Sabah, cramped into the boat to travel to their school at SK Mangkapon Pitas, which is accessible through Sungai Bongkol. - Mkini