‘Appaling condition of roads needs PWD’s urgent attention’
KUCHING: An accident involving two motorcycles about nine kilometres from Lawas town on the Lawas-Damit road last Friday at around 8am claimed the life of one young man, Seddie Sigar Surang.
According to Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, the 18year old victim was a student at Vocational College at Beaufort, Sabah.
Baru, who is state PKR chairman, said he understood that in an attempt to avoid a pothole on the road, Seddie went onto the other side of the road and collided with another motorcycle that was coming in the opposite direction.
“Seddie was sent to the Miri hospital from Lawas Hospital at around 4pm but he passed away at 5am the next morning. The other rider, also a young man, remains in Miri hospital,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
Baru said he had brought up the issue of the appalling condition of roads in Lawas at the end of March this year, and had an immediate response from the Public Works Department (PWD) that temporary road repairs would be completed by the end of the first week of April, and that major repair works were expected to begin in April also.
“In the May DUN ( State Legislative Assembly) sitting, I raised up this issue again, as the ‘temporary road repairs’ was done by filling up the holes in the road with gravel and earth, and no major repair works had been carried out.
“In his reply, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transport (Tan Sri Datuk Amar) James Masing told the Dewan that for 2017, a sum of RM3.6 million has been provided for the repair of critical stretches and that the potholes will be tar-sealed to form a paved surface.”
Baru said he was informed that within hours of the tragic accident last Friday, the pothole in question had been filled up and repaired.
“Does this point to an attitude problem of the PWD? It shows that if they have to, they can carry out proper repairs. Why wait until someone dies before it’s done? That is only one pothole fixed. What about the rest of the potholes? The people are asking: do we have to pay one life for the repair of each pothole?”
Baru said the government must realise that because of their lackadaisical attitude and lack of professionalism, one young life has been lost.
“The minister said that funds had been provided and PWD said major repair works would begin in April – why the delay? I am sure that the people of Lawas who are crying out for decent roads are not interested in any excuses the authorities may offer.
“Because of their negligence and lack of care, one family has to bear the immense pain of losing their young son. A life full of potential has been snuffed out.”