Don’t let the solution cover up the cause

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The allocation of RM77.4 million by the state government to upgrade the Miri-Marudi road announced last Thursday was greeted with relief by those who have to endure the long bumpy ride on the 43.2km road all this while.

It was also an occasion for some politicians to claim credit for bringing up the people’s problems to government and to praise the government for addressing their plight.

However, while due credit should rightly be given to the state government for finally doing something to repair and upgrade the road that has deteriorated to a disgraceful state, it must answer several salient questions on the situation.

Although the people who have to use the road are thankful for the promise to upgrade the road, they are also wondering why it took so long for their voices to be heard.

Their frustration over the inaction of the authorities was so great that someone planted an oil palm seedling in a pot hole in the middle of the road, took a picture, and uploaded it to facebook. They have voiced their frustration and anger for months to no avail, and it was insulting to them that some politician should crow about how the government listened to their problems and came to their aid.

The more cynical ones point to the looming state election as the reason behind the approval of the fund for the road.

Another question that begs an answer is how the authorities could approve the completion of the project in the first place given the short time the road fell into almost total disrepair.

Whoever monitored the work has to explain why they passed such shoddy work.

Even more pressing is the question of which authority is in charge of the maintenance of the road.

Was there adequate supervision of the maintenance contractor (if any) by the authorities or was the road left to the ravage of wear and tear after it was completed without any provision for its upkeep and repair?

These are pertinent questions that must not be swept under the carpet by the approval of the grant to upgrade the road.

The condition of Miri-Marudi road is a symptom of the

malaise of ‘build and forget’ afflicting other road projects in the state especially in the rural areas.

Finding answers to these questions is crucial for the state government to address this problem.

In the meantime hopefully the upgrading project would not take too long to get off the ground because each day the road is left in its present condition, the people are risking their life and limb using it.