KUCHING, Apr 27: Former Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Lo Khere Chiang calls on Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen to advocate for funds to build a flyover at Mile 8 flyover instead of tinkering with traffic lights, which has been tried and found to be ineffective as a long-term solution to congestion.
Lo, who is also Batu Kitang assemblyman, stressed in a statement released today that Chong should do the right thing for Sarawak by fighting for the Mile 8 flyover in Parliament as it is what the people want and it would also solve the traffic congestion problem.
“Today, instead of bringing this to Parliament, what is Chong doing? He is saying there is not necessarily any need to build a flyover! He is saying what needs to be done is to just adjust the timing of the traffic lights.
“This has been tried and there is no way adjusting the timing can help. If it can, there would be no jams already. His idea of traffic management by extension of green lights during peak hours with assistance of traffic police has been tried and found not workable by the traffic lights consultant and it is definitely not a long-term solution,” Lo asserted.
“I am perplexed as to why the MP of Stampin tries so hard to avoid bringing up the issue in Parliament and request for funds, but is so quick and eager to cut funding for projects in Sarawak,” he added.
Lo also demanded Chong disclose the entire list of what the latter called ‘hot air’ or ‘overpriced’ projects for Sarawak that were cut by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2018 because the ‘rakyat’ (people) deserve to know.
“Don’t just call them ‘hot air’ or ‘overpriced projects’. What were they? How much were they? What was the official statement given for axing them?” he said.
In addition, the former MPP chairman clarified that the Council was not involved in the initial planning and design (phases) of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway project.
He said the fact that the then MPP chairman only announced the other four flyovers does not prove that Mile 8 was not initially considered as it just means that the four mentioned flyovers were finalised for implementation. Lo said this to rebutt Chong’s statement at a press conference on April 20 that the ‘missing’ Mile 8 flyover was never part of the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway project. — DayakDaily
