By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 31: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has firmly refuted what it described as an unfair suggestion by Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak that public complaints over the drain collapse at Lorong Rock 1 were ignored or that the council failed to act with urgency, stressing that infrastructure works of this nature require proper engineering assessments and strict adherence to procurement and safety regulations.
MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said the narrative put forward by Michael Kong, the special assistant to DAP Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen, does not accurately reflect the actual sequence of events or the efforts undertaken by the council and its officers since the issue first surfaced.
“Councillors together with technical officers and engineers conducted an initial site inspection at Lorong Rock 1 on Nov 8, 2025, following feedback received from the public. The inspection identified structural concerns at the affected drain, prompting the matter to be escalated for further technical assessment,” he said in a statement after addressing the press during an event at SMK Tabuan Jaya today.
A second site visit was subsequently carried out on Nov 11, 2025, by MBKS officers to further evaluate the extent of the damage and to determine the appropriate scope of repair works.
Wee said the assessment took into account safety considerations, engineering requirements and the need to ensure long-term structural integrity.
“Based on these assessments, MBKS proceeded with the necessary internal processes, including technical evaluations, cost estimation and preparation for procurement,” he said, adding that a tender for the repair works will be called soon in accordance with established procurement procedures.
Wee also highlighted the ongoing funding constraints faced by local authorities, particularly in relation to infrastructure maintenance, noting that allocations under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS) fund have not increased despite rising construction costs and the growing need to upgrade ageing infrastructure.
“DAP is part of the federal government and meaningful progress on infrastructure issues requires collective effort and support, including the mobilisation of appropriate federal funding mechanisms.
“This statement is not to apportion blame, but to emphasise that timely action and adequate funding are essential to address infrastructure issues effectively and sustainably,” Wee said.
He stressed that MBKS strongly rejects any suggestion that complaints were ignored or that the council failed to act promptly, reiterating that engineering assessments, procurement processes and safety requirements cannot be bypassed without compromising public safety and accountability.
The mayor further emphasised that MBKS officers and technical staff have been actively managing the matter since November 2025, including inspections, assessments, monitoring and preparatory works, adding that public statements overlooking these efforts are unfair to officers on the ground.
MBKS, he said, remains committed to safeguarding public safety and delivering responsible and professional municipal services, and will continue taking the necessary steps to ensure the situation at Lorong Rock 1 is addressed in a proper and sustainable manner. — DayakDaily
