KUALA NERANG: About 1,000 residents from four villages near here are hoping the authorities can immediately take action to replace a bridge that collapsed last year and repair another one which is on the verge of collapse.
Both bridges, connecting Kampung Nahan, Kampung Pong Selatan, Kampung Chanding and Kampung Lamdi, play important roles in the residents' socio-economic activities.
Wichit a/l Soowan, 55, a resident of Kampung Nahan, said the bridge in Kampung Nahan which is the main route for the villagers to get to the orchard, collapsed on Oct 25 last year which has made it difficult for them to go about their daily tasks.
"This bridge also leads to the Muslim cemetery and after it collapsed the residents have to take an alternative road which is much further, a five-kilometre route.
"The cemetery is less than 50 metres from my house and I am always aware if any of the villagers have passed on but nowadays people hardly pass through this area," he said when met at the village.
The second bridge in Kampung Pong Selatan is dilapidated and on the verge of collapse, said another resident, Affendi Ramli, 48, who expressed hope that it would be repaired or built anew to facilitate their daily activities.
"Most of the villagers here are farmers and they use the bridge to get to the rubber estates and pineapple farms. If this bridge collapses, we the residents of Kampung Pong Selatan will be completely cut off," he said.
Affendi said he was worried that something untoward would happen if the bridge was not repaired or replaced immediately as there were already visible cracks in the middle, thus heavy vehicles are strongly advised against using the bridge.
"Villagers dare not use the bridge to transport rubber and pineapples.
"If we have to, we need to use a light vehicle with a minimum load for fear that the bridge will collapse," said Affendi who has submitted an application for a new bridge through the village chief's office. – Bernama