By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 28: The Kenyalang Interchange flyover has been declared safe for public use after confirming that large lumps of debris spotted falling in viral video clips were due to clearing works carried out by a contractor.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said this matter has been confirmed by the Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak following an on-site inspection today.
This came after video clips of falling debris from the Kenyalang Interchange flyover near RH Plaza went viral and led to concerns among people about its structural safety. In a video, a man was heard speaking in Foochow dialect, alleging that the flyover is cracking.
“I believe this is the hottest topic on social media today. But rest assured that the flyover is safe for use,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk online session today.
Clarifying that the responsible contractor is not under MBKS’jurisdiction, Wee trusts that JKR Sarawak will address the matter with the contractor accordingly.
He also expressed surprise at the contractor’s approach to clearing the debris from the flyover by sweeping it underneath instead of collecting it for disposal.
He noted the potential danger this posed, especially if the area beneath the flyover is utilised by passing vehicles instead of being an open space or park.
Acknowledging the public’s role in raising concerns, Wee appreciated netizens for promptly notifying the council and relevant authorities about the issue.
“It is right and important for netizens and citizens to alarm and inform the authorities so that action can be taken to inspect and clarify when safety concerns arise,” he said.
However, Wee also cautioned against making speculative assumptions before obtaining verifiable information, as premature conclusions could unnecessarily cause worry and anxiety among the larger community.
“There are even people messaging me asking if it is safe to use the flyover after seeing the video clips. The flyover is safe, so please don’t worry about it,” he added. — DayakDaily
