KUCHING, Jan 23: Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang has rebutted claims from the opposition that his office is responsible for the planning and design of the accident-prone Mile 15 Kuching-Serian Road roundabout.
In a statement today, Lo made it clear that the Kuching-Serian Road, including the controversial roundabout, was the responsibility of the federal government and not as alleged by former Stampin MP Julian Tan and former Batu Kawah assemblywoman Christina Chiew.
“They need to check their facts first before making such a false and malicious accusation against MPP,” he said.
About a week ago, Lo complained that ever since the road was completed in June last year, a total of 417 accidents, with six fatalities, happened along Mile 10 to Mile 15. Out of this number, about 200 accidents and one death occurred at the Mile 15 roundabout alone.
Lo, who is also the Batu Kitang assemblyman, reiterated that the design of the road was carried out by Public Works Department (JKR) Malaysia and not JKR Sarawak.
“Tan has maliciously spread the news that I, in MPP, should know about this roundabout project and that it was approved by MPP. What rubbish! I hope the rakyat see through their low class and despicable acts.
“They are trying to confuse and mislead the public into believing that MPP and I are the authorities responsible for the approval of the Kuching-Serian Road.
“There is neither any necessity to consult MPP nor is there any requirement to seek approval from MPP as claimed by Tan and Chiew.”
Lo said he was made to understand that no professional consultant was engaged for this road, and the design was done in-house under the scrutiny of JKR Malaysia.
“Why? This is one good example of Sarawak’s claim for administrative autonomy, in which the federal government should not interfere with Sarawak’s administration.
“Just park the allocation with JKR Sarawak and let JKR Sarawak engage local consultants who know our local strengths and weaknesses best to design this road.”
He advised Tan and Chiew to stop politicking as the two should be more conversant with government procedures, more so when they are in the federal government now.
Lo also advised the duo to double up on efforts to start fulfilling some of the PH election pledges if they are true Sarawakians.
“It is obvious that the federal government and PH has once again failed Sarawak, not SUPP (Sarawak United Peoples’ Party) and not GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) as alleged by Tan and Chiew.”— DayakDaily
