Bandar Kuching MP lauds installation of safety railings

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KUCHING:  Bandar Kuching MP Chong Ching Jen has welcomed the installation of a safety railing at a monsoon drain in Batu Lintang where 19-year-old Kho Ying Qi fell and believed to have drowned during the flash flood that affected the whole city on Jan 5.

At a press conference here yesterday, the Kota Sentosa assemblyman who earlier visited the site of the tragedy, deemed the building of the metal railings as a case of ‘better late than never’.

“The workers who erected the railings told me that the contract was for that small stretch. I urged the councils or bodies put-in-charge on this project to extend this construction at all places that are prone to flooding, which also have exposed drains,” said Chong who was contented with the initiative.

He also pin-pointed the slopes at the entrance of Chung Hua Primary School No.6 which leads into a drain. Stating that there was no pavement beside the road, Chong deemed the condition as quite dangerous necessitating the installation of railings.

“Considering that we are still in the monsoon period, we need to prevent further occurrence of this unfortunate incident. The councils should erect the railings at all black spot areas,” suggested Chong.

Kho’s body has yet to be found after she was swept away in the Jan 5 tragedy. Another victim — Herman Sihas who drowned while trying to rescue her, was found on Jan 7 about three kilometres away.