KAPIT: Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat yesterday noon inspected a road that had its side eroded away.
The condition was caused by a recent landslide at KM5 of Jalan Selirik – just 200m away from SMK Selirik.
It occurred on a steep slope of Sungai Amang at the junction of Rumah Richard Engking here.
Accompanying Jamit were Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) Kapit chairman Edward Manggah, Councillor Liew Hua Hua and several villagers from Rumah Richard Engking.
Jamit appealed to the authorities concerned to repair the damaged road immediately before the situation got worse.
“My main concern is the safety of all road users as Jalan Selirik is the main gateway to Kapit for those from Sungai Amang, Jalan Melekun and Jalan Mujong areas. Two
schools, SMK Selirik and SK Sungai Amang, and federal government living quarters named ‘Medical Villa’, Rumah Richard Engking, Rumah Achan and Kampung Balang are also located not far from the eroded road,” he said.
He called on road users to exercise extra care when approaching the site of the soil erosion for their own safety and that of others.
He was happy that the authority had erected signs, warning the public about the soil erosion, which could have been caused by a blocked culvert or the softening of surrounding soil by water leaking from the water main. The loose soil might have moved sideways, causing lack of support and damage to the ‘belian’ (ironwood) retaining wall.
Last year, a major landslide forced half of the road to be closed.