Two Bingkor bridges swept away by floodwater

KENINGAU: Two bridges in Bingkor ?one at Kampung Bandukan and the other at Kampung Minansut — was swept away by floodwater on Wednesday afternoon, disrupting the routine of hundreds of villagers and farmers.

Some houses in Kampung Minansut were also inundated when the river burst its banks near Bandukan Park.

A resident, Johari Pongod, described the 5.30pm incident as the worst flooding since the deadly Greg storm that killed more than 200 people and ravaged thousands of homes in 1996.

Another resident, Robert Tawik said, said most farmers are now unable bring their produce such as oil palm fruits, rubber and vegetables to the market, and their paddy to rice mills after the bridge was swept away.

Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who visited the scene yesterday, urged the Government to speed up a concrete bridge project at Kampung Bandukan.

He said the bridge was supposed to be completed a month ago, but its progress was disappointing.

“The bridge project started on March 22 last year and should have been completed on 21 September this year, but the work has been very slow,”he said.

“I understand that the cost of the bridge is RM6.9 million and I was told by the villagers that work on the project has been disrupted for two months.

“I hope the government, particularly the departments concerned, will investigate this matter,” he said.

Jeffrey said that had the bridge been completed on schedule, the villagers would not have to suffer inconvenience after level crossing bridge was washed away.

“Now it is becoming a big problem to the residents and owners of oil palm plantations due to the severed link,” he said.

“I want to make sure that the Government will take stern action against the contractors involved in the project. Whatever reason can no longer be accepted, for less than 10 percent of the bridge has been completed,” he said.

Jeffrey also urged the Government to help villagers whose homes were affected by the flood on Wednesday.