'Rich' Assemblymen basking while villagers suffer

Some 3,000 people have reportedly been cut-off after floods destroyed the bridge linking them to the outside world but today, nothing has been done to help them.

KOTA KINABALU: Kota Marudu assemblyman Maximus Ongkili is an allegedly wealthy man and so too is Tandek constituency representative Anita Baranting. Both are Barisan Nasional reps but seem oblivious to the fact that the two constituencies are the poorest in Sabah, said opposition PKR.

Calling for an immediate solution to ease the suffering of the community, Kota Kinabalu PKR chief Christina Liew (picture) said both Baranting and Ongkili must no longer dally on the long-delayed infrastructure problems affecting their constituents.

Liew was commenting on reports in the media that villagers were forced to depend on a suspension bridge that is near collapse in Tandek.

“It is shocking. The only dirt road linking the areas to the outside world is cut off by the Pongopuyan river. When it rains, it floods… motorists have to wait for the water to subside before they can cross the river.

“This is another situation where the elected representatives of the constituencies failed in their duties to their constituents,” she said.

According to the report, some 3,000 residents are affected by the lack of sealed roads and a bridge to the outside world.

Thus far, five people have drowned while trying to cross the river. Over a 100 schoolchildren are still using the collapsing wooden suspension bridge to get to school.

“This is unacceptable. Precious lives have already been lost and schoolchildren are at risk due to the poorly maintained bridge. The villagers’ hardship is made even worse when lorries refuse to come through the river to collect their rubber products especially when it rains,” she said.

Elected reps failed in their duties

Liew asked why the two elected representatives concerned had failed to use their funds to construct a concrete bridge to replace the suspension bridge and to upgrade the dirt road.

“The peoples’ interest should be taken care of at all times and at any cost by the government of the day. It is their duty to look after the interest and welfare of the people who elected them into power,” she said.

She added that it appeared that the BN elected representatives had not done their homework by going down to the ground to find out what is going on in their constituencies.

She said that the situation in Tandek raised questions about the government’s seriousness in lifting the standard of living of the villagers and improving their economic status.

“They should not just sit in their air-conditioned office and talk about ‘economic reforms’ when their constituents are suffering from lack of basic amenities,” she said.

By Queville To