Traffic jams: MPKS calls for understanding

KUCHING: Kota Samarahan Municipal Council ( MPKS) is appealing for the people’s understanding and patience following massive complaints on the traffic jams in Samarahan Expressway due to road upgrading works by Public Works Department (JKR).

Its chairman Datuk Peter Minos said many have ‘ hit and hammered’ MPKS for the terrible jams not knowing that it was not MPKS but JKR that owns and looks after the Kuching- Samarahan

Massive traffic jams in Kota Samarahan are sources of tension and frustration, affecting the people’s mood, business, time and petrol wastage. Hopefully JKR sees it that way.

Expressway.

“Massive traffic jams in Kota Samarahan are sources of tension and frustration, affecting the people’s mood, business, time and petrol wastage. Hopefully JKR sees it that way,” he said.

On behalf of MPKS, he said the council is appealing to JKR to consider putting up traffic lights at two critical roundabouts in Kota Samarahan because these are the real bottlenecks.

“The idea of road diversions and flyovers can be considered in years to come, if there is funding.

“The idea of using traffic wardens at peak hours and actual traffic jam times do not, and will not work. Traffic lights at least give immediate relief,” he said.

On another matter, Minos said MPKS is going all out to ensure that areas under its jurisdiction are totally free from rabies outbreak, which will be done in earnest with what the higher authorities had directed it to do.

“We strictly follow and abide by what the State Disaster Management Committee under Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah has decided upon for implementation, as we feel that rabies must be stamped out for good and as soon as possible.

“Rabies is very scary. Extremely dangerous. Fatal if untreated. Local councils must therefore go all out in helping the government to eliminate it,” he said yesterday.

He added that MPKS would act as fast and as best as they could when they received report from any residents about stray or aggressive-looking dogs .

“That is the least we can and should do before anyone is bitten. We do greatly appreciate reporting or sighting of stray or wild dogs. Dog lovers can say what they like but we value human lives above any animal life. A loss of one fellow human being due to rabies is far too many and a great loss,” he said.

He hoped the authorities will study how other countries have succeeded in eliminating diseases caused by animals, such as how Hong Kong became successful in containing and eliminating the bird flu and how the United Kingdom got rid of mad cow disease a few years ago.

“If there is no better option and for whatever reason rabies cannot be eradicated, the government may have no choice but to emulate what Hong Kong and UK did. We hope that we will not come to that point.”

Datuk Peter Minos, MPKS chairman