By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Jan 28: A Sarawak lawmaker has called out Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Sarawak Public Works Department (Sarawak JKR) for the lack of maintenance of two sets of escalators at both ends of the overhead bridge in front of Timberland Medical Centre (TMC).
Padungan assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen said both sets of escalators — the set on the side of the overhead bridge in front of TMC and the set on the other side of the overhead bridge have been dysfunctional for more than a year, and complaints from the public had fallen on deaf ears.
“The issue has been passed back and forth between MBKS and Sarawak JKR.
“When the public complained to MBKS, MBKS said it was the duty of (Sarawak) JKR. When the public complained to (Sarawak) JKR, (Sarawak) JKR said its MBKS’ responsibility,” said Chong, who checked on the escalators and presented the issue live on his social media this morning, upon receiving a complaint from the public.
Apart from being dysfunctional, rubbish is also seen littered on the escalators.
Chong, also Stampin MP, said whichever agency was responsible, they are both under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government.
To him, the government had spent taxpayers’ money to build the escalators. The idea was noble as the escalators were constructed for the convenience of TMC’s patients and their families and residents in the area.
“But due to poor maintenance and neglect, these escalators are not operating. Therefore, they can’t be used by taxpayers and the residents nearby, which is a waste of public funds.
“I hope the relevant agencies, be it MBKS or JKR, where both are agencies of GPS government, will take action immediately and repair the escalators and put the public funds into good use,” said Chong, who is also Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chief. — DayakDaily
