The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Siltation suspected to be the main reason for road collapse
- Lorry drivers relate ordeal of gun-slinging officers
- Sim assists homeless family of seven
| Siltation suspected to be the main reason for road collapse Posted: 05 Jun 2013 10:04 PM PDT KOTA KINABALU: An investigation has been conducted to find out the cause of the recent road collapse at a road link off Penampang and Tambunan, in Sabah's main interior, which left hundreds of motorists stranded. Sabah Public Works Department director Datuk John Anthony said they believe siltation is the main cause and are waiting for a detailed report by the district office and other relevant authorities for the possible causes. We suspect siltation to be the main problem for the road to cave-in last Friday, but I don't think the allegations of the presence of a geese pond, could have been the main contributor to the landslide, he said. Anthony said they were also in the process of finding out whether the hillcutting beside the road was approved. We saw that there were piles of sand nearby and this might have been the cause of culverts being blocked, resulting in the heavy water pressure from the pond and continuous rain to push the road down the hill, he said. John, however, said they were still investigating and have repaired parts of the damaged area. Vehicles can now use the road but it is advised that drivers be extra cautious when passing through this stretch of road, he said. The landslip on Kaamatan day also damaged part of a house though no one was hurt. The Penampang-Tambunan road that cuts through the Crocker Range is a key link to Sabah's interior of Keningau and Tenom districts. |
| Lorry drivers relate ordeal of gun-slinging officers Posted: 05 Jun 2013 05:09 PM PDT KUANTAN: A lorry driver is crying foul over trigger-happy enforcement officers who forced him to pull over using a pistol. Cheong Kai Lim, 48, said he had to endure such a harrowing experience for the first time. In relating his ordeal at a press conference called by Teruntum assemblyman Sim Chon Siang, Cheong said he was transporting a consignment of iron ore from Jabor, Terengganu, to Kuantan Port on May 29. "An unmarked Proton Waja with four people tried to flag me down using a flashlight early in the morning. "I refused to pull over fearing they could be robbers as I was driving alone and it was still dark. "They attempted to force me off the road twice and in a third attempt, one of the passengers pointed a pistol at me." Cheong said as a result, he was forced to pull over by the side of the highway which could pose a danger to other passing motorists. He said the men who ordered him wore safety vests and confiscated his permit. "I was directed to undergo an inspection at the Panching JPJ station. "I am willing to co-operate but upset with the manner I was forced to stop by officers in an unmarked car and using a handgun," he said. Cheong said he hoped the police would investigate the case to determine if there was a breach of procedure in carrying out random inspection. He admitted that truck was transporting cargo over the permitted weight and was willing to pay a fine. "Actually, most lorry drivers are carrying more than the permitted weight to cut costs. "The reason is being the rising price of diesel but transporting charges remain the same," he said. Cheong said he had lodged a police report at the Beserah police station. In relation to the matter, Sim said another lorry driver S. Logeshvaran, 28, had also encountered a similar experience on the same day. Sim said Logeshvaran was also stopped at Sungai Ular, Kuantan, at about 6.30am by four men in an unmarked Toyota Land Cruiser. He said the men had used a hailer ordering him to stop by the roadside. "Logeshvaran did not stop his lorry ferrying a consignment of salt as it was still dark and the village road was narrow. "After reaching a safe stretch, he pulled over before two men, wearing JPJ vests, threatened him with a pistol," he said, adding that the men seized Logeshvaran's permit and directed him to go for inspection at the Panching JPJ station, accompanied by a policeman and officers from Land Public Transport Commission. Sim said Logeshvaran also lodged a report, urging the police to investigate the incident. He said Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh would meet the lorry drivers to discuss the matter before bringing it up to the Parliament. "We want to know if there is a breach of procedure in using handguns to threaten lorry drivers and misuse of power by enforcement officers. "They can enforce the law but it must follow proper procedures using official government vehicles or set up a road block," added Sim. |
| Sim assists homeless family of seven Posted: 05 Jun 2013 05:09 PM PDT KUANTAN: A poverty-stricken family of seven has been living in the state mosque here for a month. Their plight came to light when Teruntum assemblyman Sim Chon Siang was duly informed and paid them a visit recently. The family head, Norismakamal Ismail, 37, said he was a fisherman in Kemaman, Terengganu, with an income of RM800 a month. He moved out of his home after some differences with his brother recently. "I have been staying with my brother all this while before we got into a big quarrel and decided to leave with my family." Norismakamal said presently, he found a job as a security guard in Gebeng to support his family. He said his wife and five children would stay in the mosque while he is at work. "I return to the mosque after work to join them. "If it rains, we would look for shelter nearby," he said, adding that they had been staying in the mosque for one month and had received some assistance from passers-by. Norismakamal said his wife Siti Khadijah Saudi, 30 is classified as an OKU (physically-challenged person) after a hit-and-run accident in 2005. "In 2010, I applied for a low-cost house but there is no response until now. "I could not afford to rent a place to stay as my meagre income is enough to feed my family," he said. Due to the lack of funds, all his children have stopped schooling. Relating to the case, Sim said he would assist the family and find them temporary shelter at an orphan's home in Sungai Isap. He would also follow-up with the state secretary's office on the status of the family's low-cost house application. |
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