KUCHING, Jan 26: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has expressed disappointment that the council and himself have been blamed and targeted by some individuals for everything that goes wrong in Kuching City.
He called on these individuals, whom he said used to be a woman elected representative and now, “a special assistant”, to verify facts of the issues before heaping blame upon MBKS and misleading Kuching residents.
Referring to the flexible traffic safety poles that were erected in the middle of the stretch of Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce in front of the Podium (near Aeon Mall traffic light intersection), which had allegedly caused an accident, he explained that this part of the city is under Kuching North City Commission (DBKU).
Without naming anyone, Wee claimed that the individual who posted the issue on Facebook blamed MBKS for the erecting of these safety poles but later replaced MBKS with “authorities”.
“This morning, I had contacted DBKU. I have discussed the issue with them. Of course, their intention is good because as you can actually see, the cars are crossing to the other side which they are not supposed to. So it (the illegal changing of lane by drivers) will create accident.
“So that is why they (DBKU) thought it would be good if they put up the things (flexible traffic safety poles) in the middle of the road. But whatever it is, it is out of good intention,” said Wee who did a ground check on the section of the road today, and livestreamed it on social media.
While he was still livestreaming, DBKU staff was seen removing the flexible traffic safety poles. Before the end of Wee’s live stream, all safety poles were cleared away.
Meanwhile, Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Michael Kong who is special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen today issued a statement saying that five flexible traffic safety poles were abruptly installed along Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, near the Aeon Mall traffic light intersection on Jan 25 (Thursday).
He said this unexpected installation, positioned in the middle of a long straight stretch of road, raises serious concerns regarding road safety.
“Unfortunately, a road user needed stitches for injuries sustained in a traffic incident that happened less than a day after this installation.
“This incident underscores the urgency of revisiting and revising the decision to install these poles. Placing these flexible traffic poles in the middle of the road can pose a significant hazard, especially for motorcyclists who may not anticipate such obstacles on a straight road.
“I strongly urge the authorities to go back to the drawing board, ensuring that any road safety measures are implemented through a thoroughly considered plan that prioritizes the well-being of all road users,” said Kong. — DayakDaily
