Family’s 20-year wait resolved with extended walkway
MIRI: A family living in Ulu Tellian, Mukah expressed their thanks to the Barisan Nasional ( BN) government and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for putting an end to their many years of wading through flash floodwaters after an extended plank walkway connecting their house to the rest of the village was completed last Friday.
Gerita Ayum who lives in her family’s house located near the river bank said before this, they had to wade through threefeet high floodwater every time it rained. She praised the BN government and their ‘ wakil rakyat’ ( elected representative) for ‘walking the talk’ and proving they are people- oriented by overcoming the people’s issues.
“I feel relieved now. No more having to carry our shoes to cross the flash floodwater every time it rains to move to higher ground and (worrying about the) safety of the children,” Gerita told The Borneo Post yesterday, expressing her gratitude to all relevant parties who heard about and helped to alleviate their plight.
According to Gerita, the 200foot plank walkway was built by a contractor through a tender under the Mukah District Office.
The issue was first highlighted by the Borneo Post in October and action was taken by Tellian state assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo and the Mukah District Office to find out about and solve the longstanding issue.
With the walkway completed, Gerita’s family now has free access within the village as they are now properly connected to the rest of the village.
Expressing similar relief was her brother Benjaan Ayum, 42, who added that without the media’s help to highlight the issue, their requests for the walkway which had been disregarded for about 20 years would have continued to fall on deaf ears.
“Our family wishes to thank the media and Tok Nan (Adenan) and YB Tellian ( Yussibnosh) for responding to our plight,” he said.