By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 31: A dispute involving barriers installed at the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) construction site near shophouses at Jalan Wan Alwi in Tabuan Stutong was swiftly resolved within an hour following the intervention of Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
The issue arose when a retail shop operator, who is a tenant on the ground floor of a corner shophouse, raised concerns over a 4-metre-high barrier erected by Sarawak Metro’s contractor.
The barrier would have completely blocked the main entrance of his shop, which he feared would result in a drastic drop in sales throughout the construction period of the KUTS project.
Acting promptly on the complaint, Wee facilitated a mediation session on-site involving Sarawak Metro, the contractor, the affected shop owner and the tenant.
Thanks to a “give-and-take” solution offered by Wee, the contractor agreed to dismantle the barrier and redesign its layout to accommodate the business’s operational needs without compromising the construction works.
“Any development projects, be it undertaken by private sector or the government agencies, must be carried out in accordance with the law and regulations with minimum intervention or inconvenience caused to the residents and merchants,” he said in a statement today.
Wee also expressed disappointment at certain political quarters for allegedly using issues relating to the KUTS project as a “publicity stunt” instead of genuinely assisting those affected.
He also thanked Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, MBKS councillor Eric Tay and community leaders who were present and offered support in resolving the issue amicably. – DayakDaily
