MIRACLE BRIDGE AT SUANG PAI RIVER

THE BRIDGE across the River Suang Pai used by the villagers is unsafe because the timber which was installed was not being nailed.

Village community here appealed to the government that the fragile wood be replaced immediately and they also requested that the bridge be installed with wood fence or barrier so as not to pose dangers to users of the bridge.

According to Terri Osital, a villager and frequent user of the bridge told that in July this year an elderly was using the bridge fell into the river while driving  his van.

Fortunately the victim only suffered minor injuries but his van with its body frame and engine fall apart and incurred total lost and cannot be used anymore. The victim was believed to be transporting his vegetables to be sold at Kudat town at that time.

Following the incident, the villagers approached Kudat DAP office to voice their grievances. Alex Wong, who is also the Chairman of Kudat DAP made a visit to the bridge yesterday with several members of DAP Kudat branch to view the actual condition of the bridge.

After inspection, Wong appealed to the relevant authorities here to take immediate action before anymore untoward incident happened.  He added that prevention is better than waiting for the adverse event to occur again.

In view of the harsh condition of another bridge located at Jalan Ku Shu, he also requested the Public Works Department (PWD) to make an inspection and rectify the condition of the bridge immediately. It was made to understand that the bridge is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rural development.

In other developments Alex Wong also appealed to SESB here to investigate the real cause of the frequent power disruption of electricity supply especially in the rural villages comprising of Marang-Parang, Kg Tiga Papan, Loro Kecil and Bavang Jamal.  The villagers said that only lights with low voltage can be used at night while the refrigerator that refreshes their products from marine capture like fish failed to function thus causing losses to the villagers.