KUCHING, Oct 4: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen wants Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi to provide a full account of the reasons behind the broken Nanga Musah Bridge at Song, Kapit which was constructed at a cost of RM55 million but lasted less than 10 years.
Chong, who is also Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman, emphasised that the government, including the Ministry of Works and Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak, must be transparent and accountable to the people of Sarawak.
“Since the news of the bridge’s damage broke on Sept 21, I have waited patiently for both the authorities to give a full account of the matter to all Sarawakians. Two weeks have passed and yet, it seems no such report is forthcoming.
“The bridge was completed in 2014 at a cost of RM55 million. Less than 10 years after its completion, it is now broken. We are lucky that no one was hurt in the incident. However, the fact that no one was hurt does not exonerate the wrongdoings over the broken bridge,” he said in a statement today.
Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, added that the biggest irony of this construction fiasco is that it is in the parliamentary constituency of Nanta who is also the Kapit MP.
“The consultant of the project is Perunding IrNova Sdn Bhd and the contractor undertaking the construction work is Wang Marine Sdn Bhd, there are still many questions that we, Sarawakians, want answers from the government,” he said.
Chong urged Nanta to provide answers to the cause behind the bridge’s collapse, the approval processes involved in the construction of the bridge and who will be responsible for the reconstruction costs, among others.
“If he shall need further time, then a deadline must be given on when such answers are forthcoming to the public,” Chong added.
Meanwhile, on Sept 30, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas informed that an 80-meter-long bailey bridge will be constructed as an interim solution to replace the defective and unsafe Nanga Musah Bridge.
The Sarawak government has allocated RM4.8 million for the bridge, access roads, and transportation needs for the residents on both sides of the river.
Kapit divisional JKR engineer Jawa Bara has attributed the Nanga Musah bridge’s critical structure damage to soil movement in the river, which caused a section to sink, leading to the bridge’s closure on Sept 21 at around 9.30pm. — DayakDaily
