PLEASE HELP: Saing (left) with some longhouse folk point to the damaged retaining wall in front of their longhouse.
SIBU: Soil erosion threatens a 31-door longhouse in Tanjung Berkakap, Bawang Assan after a retaining wall of belian and concrete piles was damaged by erosion.
The eroded part is no less than 20 metres from the end of Rumah Saing Beliang.
Its longhouse chief, Tuai Rumah Saing, 77, told reporters yesterday the Lebaan River had ‘eaten’ into a part of the road and motor parking area.
“The erosion has worsened in the last four years. If it continues, the road and motor parking
area will eventually vanish,” he said.
“The erosion was caused by fast flowing water, apart from waves created by riverine transport such as express boats and ships.
“We are appealing to the government and the people’s representative in the constituency to rebuild the retaining wall to prevent further erosion. If possible, use big blocks of concrete to build the retaining wall,” he stated.
Saing said he had brought up the problem to the parties concerned including Bandar Sibu MP, the late Datuk Robert Lau. Representatives from the government department concerned came to survey the problem but no action was
taken.
“If this project cannot not be carried out at once, we request it to be implemented in stages,” he said. The longhouse folk had been waiting for a long time for the solution.
He urged the parties concerned for the road and car park area at the longhouse to be repaired and tar-sealed for the comfort of the 250 residents.