By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Jan 18: The Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak will increase the number of traffic wardens for Kuching South City Council (MBKS).
Its minister Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian said this is very much needed to assist in the capital city’s ever growing traffic congestion.
Speaking at the caring community programme in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration at KMC Flats’ multi-purpose hall in Padungan here today, Dr Sim said MBKS currently has six traffic wardens and six traffic motorcycles.
“I asked MBKS mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng to help out. They’ve been assisting the police by stationing traffic wardens at the Northbank roundabout along the Kuching-Samarahan Expressway to help reduce traffic congestion during peak hours.
“This is in response to the public outcry over the serious traffic congestion due to the construction of traffic lights at five roundabouts along the expressway,” Dr Sim said.
He added that such a situation is unavoidable when it comes to any road construction or upgrade, and thus having more traffic wardens can help to smoothen future traffic flow.
Agreeing with Dr Sim, Wee said the traffic congestion at the Northbank roundabout was not caused on purpose nor for any inconvenience.
“Nobody wants to be trapped for hours on the road, nor does anyone wanted to be scolded.
“However, in this case, the Northbank roundabout congestion happened due to the current road and traffic light construction project which we cannot avoid.
“This project has to be done for the sake of future road users along this route. So I plead to everyone to bear with it for a while and understand,” Wee said.
On the other hand, Wee also wanted to make it clear to the public that MBKS is only acting to assist Public Works Department (JKR) and its contractor by stationing its traffic wardens at the site.
Wee also reminded the contractor to do its job accordingly by having proper traffic management to ease traffic congestion instead of relying on the local council. — DayakDaily
