KUCHING, March 6: Why is Transport Minister Anthony Loke prioritising the installation of lifts at KTM commuter stations in Peninsular Malaysia when Sarawak and Sabah are still in dire need of better transportation system?
Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan when questioning this, held that the federal government’s priorities should be on Sarawak and Sabah especially when many places are still lacking proper bridges and roads.
“Why are lifts for KTM stations in Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) considered important when Sarawakians and Sabahans are still crossing rivers infested by crocodiles by boats and some by ‘skylifts’ with bamboo bridges?
“People have to walk through the jungles and muddy roads before able to reach some towns and villages,” he lamented in a statement today.
He said road quality is also a concern as many have met accidents in these road.
Voon also pointed out that Sarawak has been facing severe flash floods in recent weeks like many other states in Peninsular Malaysia, but Sarawak has received minimal attention.
He said RM50 million immediate assistance was channeled to help flood victims in Johore, but not Sarawak.
“I hope the federal government does not treat Sarawak and Sabah lightly. Sabahans and Sarawakians are people of great patience but patience has a limit,” said Voon.
On Wednesday (March 1), Loke told reporters at the Bukit Mertajam KTM station that his ministry was in the process of installing lifts at various KTM stations to facilitate the use of public transport among the elderly, pregnant women and people with disabilities (OKU).
He also said that his ministry’s immediate priority at the moment is to ensure every KTM station is equipped with at least one lift facility. — Dayakdaily
