Landslide cuts off Belaga town
KUCHING: Belaga town has been totally cut off from the outside world following a landslide at KM30 of the Mejawah-Belaga Road around 5pm yesterday.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) executive secretary Datuk Awang Bujang Awang Antek told The Borneo Post that he had planned to drive back here last night after attending the PBB Belaga branch’s triennial delegates meeting yesterday.
“I left Belaga town at 4.50pm with the intention of driving all the way to Kuching tonight (yesterday).
“After manoeuvering through a lot of potholes along the Jiwa Murni road, we could not proceed further as a section of the road suffered erosion due to incessant rain since morning. The road had become impassable,” he said.
Awang Bujang went on to appeal to the relevant authorities to repair the road as soon as possible as it is the townsfolk’s only lifeline.
He disclosed that the other timber road out of Belaga, passing through Bukit Jayong, was similarly impassable as one section was also cut off.
“Now it looks like I may get stuck in Belaga until the road is repaired and (becomes) passable,”
After manoeuvering through a lot of potholes along the Jiwa Murni road, we could not proceed further as a section of the road suffered erosion due to incessant rain since morning. The road had become impassable. Datuk Awang Bujang Awang Antek, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) executive secretary
he said.
Awang Bujang also said he was extremely disappointed at not being able to return here as he had so much work that needed to be done at PBB headquarters.
“We have been very busy lately due to party elections at branchlevel. But this unforeseen problem will affect our preparations for our upcoming PBB Convention,” he added.
Awang Bujang was yesterday elected as deputy chairman of PBB Belaga branch.
Meanwhile, political secretary to the chief minister Kennil Jaraie said they now had no choice but to stay put in Belaga town until the road is repaired.
The Menjawah-Belaga Road was built by the army under its Jiwa Murni programme.