DAP man slams delay in reopening Jln Riam Lama, cites poor workmanship and safety risks
MIRI (July 3): Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary Alan Ling has urged the Miri Public Works Department (JKR) to expedite the full reopening of Jalan Riam Lama, which has remained partially closed for several months following a landslide.
He said the incident was initially triggered by a burst underground pipeline belonging to LAKU, which subsequently damaged the culvert structure in the affected area.
'Although the culvert was finally installed after a long delay and the road was resurfaced – as confirmed by JKR on 24 June – the road is still not fully open to the public,' he said in a statement yesterday.
Describing the prolonged delay as 'extremely disappointing', Ling stressed that Jalan Riam Lama is a vital route for residents in the area and urged authorities to ensure that repair works are completed promptly and up to standards.
He also raised concerns over the absence of roadside safety barriers, pointing out that these could have been installed earlier when the erosion first occurred.
'Despite the urgency of the situation, it is unacceptable that the road has yet to be made fully operational. The delay in installing safety barriers raises further questions about the project's management,' he added.
Following a site visit on Monday, Ling lodged a complaint through the Talikhidmat platform and followed up on the current status of the works.
He said residents have expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress, especially regarding public safety and daily inconvenience.
In response, JKR informed Ling that substandard work by the appointed subcontractor had contributed to the delay.
The department has since instructed the contractor to redo the road surfacing, with remedial works expected to begin in the coming days, weather and material availability permitting.
'JKR must act immediately to ensure the road is safe for public use. The subcontractor responsible for the poor workmanship should face appropriate penalties, as their failure has directly caused the prolonged closure,' Ling said.
He added that the situation constitutes an emergency and called for stricter oversight moving forward.
'Now we have to wait again. Who will be held accountable if an accident occurs? This is no longer a natural disaster – it is human negligence. The public should not have to suffer due to substandard repair work,' he said. Alan Ling dap Jalan Riam Lama miri
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