By Peter Sibon
SERIAN, Feb 8: Tebedu assemblyman Datuk Amar Michael Manyin Jawong hopes that a road diversion at the major landslide near Kampung Mawang Tahup could be completed by today.
He said it was vital for the road to be completed soonest possible as it is the only access road for the villagers.
“Immediate works to construct the road diversion has begun this morning. I have been briefed by the Public Works Department (PWD) division engineer and this morning, he has directed the contractor (PPES Works) to construct a temporary road diversion which we hoped could be complete by today.
“If (its) not completed by today, then the villagers will have to use river transport as a last resort. Before the road was completed, river transport was the only means to reach this village,” Manyin told reporters during a site visit at the landslide, near Kampung Mawang Tahup, some 28km from here today.
The landslide occurred at 2.30pm yesterday afternoon resulting in a total cut off to the village, which affected 135 families with some 600 inhabitants.
Meanwhile, PWD’s Divisional Engineer Oliver Ngabong said, for the permanent solution, it would take about two months to come up with the design and another seven months to build the affected area.
“The project would cost RM5 million and about a year to complete,” said Oliver.
The affected area is about 100 metres long and about 50 metres deep.
Accompanying Manyin visiting the site were political sectary to the chief minister Dr Simon Sindang Bada, Serian Resident Suni Tuah and Tebedu District officer Joseph Liaw. — DayakDaily
