State government gets tough with operators of ‘lori hantu’ at Bakun Road by beefing up enforcement
Policemen checking a lorry laden with fresh oil palm bunches at one of the barriers.
Yakup (seated centre) speaking to the media at the press conference.
BINTULU: The continuing defiance of orders for timber trucks not to use the Bakun Road through the destruction of two height limiting metal barriers built across the road has compelled the state government to turn to the army for help.
A platoon of soldiers and a team of six policemen have been deployed to stop the unregistered lorries carrying logs and fresh oil palm fruit bunches from using the road and protect the metal barriers.
This measure was announced by Bintulu Resident Muhamad Yakup Kari at a press conference after chairing a meeting with the relevant agencies on the issue at his office here yesterday.
Yakup added that four barriers, each costing RM38,000, had been approved to be built at KM1, KM44,KM54 and KM83 of the road.
However, the barrier built at KM54 on February 9 was destroyed within 24 hours after it was installed.
A second barrier installed at KM1 was similarly dealt with on Tuesday apparently by operators of the heavy vehicles which are mostly unregistered and which only come out at night leading the locals to call them ‘lori hantu’ or ‘ghost lorries’.
Yakup said any party feeling aggrieved by the implementation of any law should go through the proper channel to seek a solution instead of destroying public properties built to enforce the law.
“The deployment of the platoon of soldiers and the six policemen is a first step to monitor the Bakun Road and protect the barriers.
“I urge all agencies including Road Transport Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, police and Fire and Rescue Department to give more emphasis on backing these measures to protect public properties,” the Resident said.
He explained that the R3 grade 120km Bakun Road which was built in 2001 was not meant for heavy vehicles like the overloaded trucks.
The government had spent more than RM23.3 million since 2001 repair the damages caused by the overloaded lorries which had been plying the road despite the outcry from people in the area and repeated warnings from the authorities.
This disregard for the law is a challenge to Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s authority as he had instructed the installation of the barriers.
Responding to the destruction of the barriers, the chief minister told The Borneo Post on Feb15 that the state government would not be intimidated by whatever the culprits did.
Adenan added if one barrier was torn down, he would erect three stronger ones to replace it.
Meanwhile Bintulu deputy police chief DSP Lim Kwai Seng appealed to the public to give information to the police to help them investigate the cases.
Bintulu police station can be contacted at 086-331122 or DSP Lim at 012-4931343.