RECURRING SINKHOLE WORRIES RESIDENTS
THE sight of motorcycles and other vehicles manoeuvring a damaged entrance road to a housing estate in Lorong Bukit Setongkol 52, Kuantan, is worrying residents.
This is because a sinkhole near the entrance gets deeper each time a vehicle passes near it, increasing the risk of accidents.
Tan Kim Ang, a lorry driver who lives in the area, said motorcyclists risk crashing their machines into the sinkhole.
“I am worried that motorcyclists would hit the sinkhole and get thrown off their machines,” said the 46-year-old.
He said the Public Works Department had sent a team to patch up the sinkhole.
“However, the sinkhole has reappeared,” he said, adding that PWD had to find a longterm solution to the problem.
Another resident, Mohd Syafiq Asyraf Che Man, echoed Tan’s concerns.
“An accident could happen if a motorcycle coming from the main road hits the sinkhole and a car from the housing area also heads out to the main road at the same time,” said the 32-yearold food delivery man.
Syafiq, who delivers food by motorcycle, said the risks were higher at night, especially for non-residents who were not aware of the sinkhole.
He said the sinkhole kept recurring despite repairs due to the swampy ground.
“The authorities must come up with a long-term solution rather than patching up the road.” Pahang PWD director Datuk Abdul Jalil Mohamed said the department took the residents’ concerns seriously and would look into the matter.
“I will instruct the PWD personnel to repair the sinkhole immediately.”