KUCHING, Sept 3: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong wants the structural integrity of the Satok pedestrian suspension bridge to be fully investigated.
She expressed shock that the launching of the Satok pedestrian suspension bridge with a width of 3 metres spanning 213 metres over the Sarawak River has been suspended because of structural problems.
“It is even more shocking to know that the designer is none other than JKR (Public Works Department) Sarawak, a department whose engineers Sarawak has to rely on for technical guidance,” she said in a statement today.
If the anchor block of the 213-metre span suspension bridge could be tilted by a foot, she questioned what will happen to the bridges waiting to be built in Sarawak under the Sarawak coastal connectivity and Second Trunk Road projects, given the much greater scale and scope the latter projects will encompass.
“The competence of JKR Sarawak in designing is questionable and the fact that JKR Sarawak failed at a 213-metre (long bridge) job and yet is being relied on to supervise jobs of more than 1,000-metre (length) sends shivers down our spines,” she said.
“Batang Lupar Bridge with a bridge span of 5km, Batang Saribas (bridge) at 2,126-metre span, Batang Igan Bridge with a span of 1,300 metres, Batang Rajang Bridge with a 1,200-metre span, Muara Lassa Bridge with a 2,400-metre span, Jepak Kemena Bridge at a 1,048-metre span, Batang Paloh Bridge at a 1,915-metre span and many more. Can we still trust JKR Sarawak to oversee the designs of these bridges and implement these huge mega projects?” she questioned.
“A full investigation must be carried out to see where the fault lies — if it is a design fault or the contractor’s fault. It is convenient for JKR Sarawak to say the department will conduct its own investigation. This does not make sense because JKR Sarawak itself is the designer of the bridge.
“How is JKR Sarawak going to investigate itself? To me, this is a pure case of negligence. JKR Sarawak like any consultant should be held liable and responsible. An independent investigation must be carried out by a third party auditor.
“Please do not cover up and hide under the guise of ‘holding own investigation’ where everybody gets away scot-free,” she said. — DayakDaily
