Rela members and locals help to clear the debris that have clogged the Belaga bridge. — Photo courtesy of Datuk Awang Bujang Awang Antek
Datuk Awang Bujang Awang Antek
KUCHING: Folk in Belaga town are now worried that they will be totally cut off from the outside world if the Belaga bridge collapses due to the huge amount of debris clogged beneath it brought by the rising water level caused by the incessant rain.
According to Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) executive secretary Datuk Awang Bujang Awang Antek, the rising water has flooded some sections of the Menjawah-Belaga road and other parts of Belaga Town.
“It is feared that the bridge may give way (if the rain continues) as there is a big log stuck beneath the bridge across Belaga river,” Awang Bujang told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Besides being affected by flood, the road leading to Belaga is now cut off due to landslides.
“We are really stuck now in Belaga. Can’t go anywhere,” quipped Awang Bujang, who hails from the Malay village near Belaga town.
Awang Bujang has been stranded in Belaga after the Menjawah-Belaga road was cut off due to landslide on Tuesday afternoon. He was in Belaga to attend the PBB Belaga branch triennial delegates meeting on Tuesday.
He had planned to drive all the way back to Kuching after the meeting as he had to prepare for the party’s convention.
When contacted, Belaga assemblyman Datuk Liwan Lagang hoped that the authorities would repair the road as soon as possible as the situation was adversely affecting the lives of the people.
“Belaga is now totally cut off. The district has two mega dams earning billions of money for the state but they are left with no basic infrastructure. This has made the folks very angry,” said Liwan.
Hulu Rajang MP Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, on the other hand, said he had talked to the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation Datu Safri Zainuddin and the director-general of Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Ahmad Zaki Ansore Mohd Yusof to assist in getting the road repaired as soon as possible.
“I have contacted both of them for immediate assistance but I was told that a tractor which has been dispatched to carry out the repair works has gotten stuck due to the flood along the Menjawah-Belaga road,” he said.’
Massive debris including a huge log stuck on the Belaga bridge which the locals fear could eventually cause the bridge to collapse.
Ugak also expressed his frustration with the federal government for not assisting in upgrading the road which was built by the army under the Jiwa Murni programme.
“Enough is enough. Whoever is responsible must assist not only for the short term but also for the long term. The people have suffered enough and this is not the time for them to remain adamant and do nothing whatsoever,” he stressed.
He said as the representative of the area, he had aired the people’s frustration in Parliament on many occasions but the response had been very slow.
Meanwhile, PBB Belaga chairman Lesley Luyoh Akah urged the authorities to repair the access road to Belaga as people were left stranded, with some unable to leave or return via land.
Flooded areas in Belaga Town leading to the Belaga bridge.
“Today (yesterday), the town is completely cut off as all other alternative roads were similarly impassable,” he said in a statement, adding that those looking forward to return to Belaga for Christmas are now unable to do so.
Lesley himself made it to Bintulu via the Joyong timber road, having left Belaga town at 4.30pm on Tuesday.
Upon arriving at 9pm, he was notified by Awang Bujang that he (Awang Bujang) had to turn back due to the landslide along the Mejawah-Belaga road.