SRDC chairman laments unutilised anti-theft bars

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Sempurai (right) and SRDC secretary Justani Joni point to the unutilised anti-theft metal bar at a motorcycle parking lot in Sibu Jaya commercial area.

SIBU: Anti-theft metal bars for motorcycles, installed at some 30 locations in Sibu Jaya commercial area, have never been utilised, according to Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai.

He said the council will be stepping up awareness programmes to educate motorcyclists on the benefits of using the device.

“More than 30 locations at the new and old commercial areas in Sibu Jaya have been fitted with such locking device for motorcycle owners to secure their machines.

“But sadly, none of these facilities provided has been utilised by members of the public. I think this is due to several reasons.

“Perhaps certain locations of the motorcycle parking lots are a bit far and also due to the attitude of vehicle owners themselves.

“Maybe, they feel it is a hassle to bring along a padlock and chain their bikes to the metal bar. However, it is better to go through the trouble of double-locking the bike than risk losing it,” Sempurai told The Borneo Post.

Sempurai had earlier joined a joint operation between SRDC and Sibu Jaya police at the township on Friday to ensure road users there adhere to the new traffic direction.

“When we went around the town just now (Friday), there were motorcycles parked at the anti-theft metal bar, but none were chained to it.

“So my advice to motorcycle owners is to utilise this facility to safeguard their property,” he asserted.

Adding on, the SRDC chairman admitted there had been calls from its councillors for more such facilities to be constructed in the township.

“The council’s public works standing committee will first need to study the (proposed) locations because we do not want to build facilities which are (later) not fully utilised,” he explained.