Company not repairing damaged road

Daily Express

a day ago

Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025
Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025
By: Ahmad Apong Text Size: A section of the damaged road. SIPITANG: Residents living along the road from Basio to Meligan and up to Long Pasia are calling on the concession company to repair the severely damaged route, which has become nearly impassable. A community representative, Jennifer Opai, voiced their frustrations to Daily Express on Sunday, pointing out the poor state of the road which has made travel extremely difficult for all users.
Advertisement Frustration is mounting as even four-wheel-drive vehicles struggle, often getting stuck in mud. This has disrupted the delivery of essential supplies, including food, to Long Pasia. Jennifer cited past tragedies, including a sick individual who died en route due to the poor road conditions and a pregnant woman who was forced to give birth by the roadside after an ambulance could not reach her in time. The road's condition also impacts local farmers, who rely on it to transport their produce to Pekan Sipitang. Without repairs, their livelihoods are at risk as crops cannot reach the market. 'How long must we endure this?' Jennifer asked, noting that many residents are left in despair as their income dwindles due to the impassable road. The situation also raises concerns about medical emergencies. 'With the road in disrepair, how will Health Ministry ambulances deliver medicine or transport patients from Long Pasia and surrounding villages? What if food supplies run out and cannot be replenished from Sipitang? said Jennifer. The severity of the issue was obvious when several four-wheel-drive vehicles, including a TV3 crew, were stranded and unable to reach Long Pasia on Saturday. Meanwhile, a school clerk at SK Ulu Bole, Yoanes Paras recounted frequent breakdowns and the need for assistance to pull his vehicle out of the mud during his 10 years of working in the area. He urged the government to prioritise upgrading the road, pointing out development in villages like Long Pasia including its homestay tourism potential will remain a distant dream without proper infrastructure. 'How can Long Pasia promote tourism when even its own residents are fed up with this road?' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia