Orang Asli villagers bridge gap to kids' studies
Compiled by BENJAMIN LEE, C.ARUNO and R.ARAVINTAN
ORANG Asli villagers from Pos Balar in Gua Musang, Kelantan, have taken it upon themselves to build a temporary bridge to cross the torrential Sungai Balar as school holidays draw to an end, reported Berita Harian.
The new bridge, made out of wood, was built with a team of 57 villagers with the primary goal of enabling their kids and teachers from the nearby villages to attend the nearby SK Balar across the river with the first term holidays ending on June 9.
Orang Asli Village Development and Safety Committee chairman Hanan Anjang said the temporary bridge took nearly eight hours to complete and was the third one built at the exact crossing location.
He said the bridge was a temporary measure as plans for a new permanent bridge have finally been announced to be in the works.
'We were informed that the construction of a new bridge will begin this month but while waiting for the new bridge to be completed, residents still need to cross the river to get to school.
'So, we rebuilt the temporary bridge for the third time to ease access for parents and teachers,' he said.
Previously in March, a permanent steel suspension bridge crossing for the river was destroyed after heavy rains resulted in extremely strong currents that left Pos Balar villagers isolated.
On June 1, the Orang Asli Development Department announced the construction of a new RM400,000 bridge for Pos Balar.
> Actress Amira Othman has denied talks of her potential marriage to fellow actor Fattah Amin, Kosmo! reported.
The 31-year-old singer said there were currently no wedding plans, despite appearing to have grown closer to Fattah in the eyes of their fans.
'There has been all kinds of speculation with some even saying I'd be getting married in May, but I was performing in Johor. So, it was all just playful teasing from my fans.
'There's nothing like that (getting married).
'If anything is really happening, I'll definitely share it,' she told the daily.
Speculation began shortly following Fattah's divorce from Nur Fazura Sharifuddin in October last year.Rumours of the pair's close relationship only intensified after they were featured together in several high-profile brand campaigns, with social media photos of them together also going viral.
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