BALING, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Residents of Kampung Teluk Rambong are calling for the immediate construction of a new permanent bridge to replace the three bridges in their village that were destroyed by floods.
Mohamad Yusof Mohd Nor, 61, residents’ daily activities, those involving agriculture and the transportation of produce like palm oil, rubber, and bananas, would be disrupted if the issue was not resolved swiftly.
“I run durian and banana farms and have been living here for almost 50 years. I can say this flood is unlike anything I have ever seen before.
“This flood has swept away three bridges that connect various routes in the village, making it difficult for residents to carry out their daily activities, such as transporting agricultural produce, taking their children to school and going to the surau,” he told reporters today.
According to Mohamad Yusof, approximately 20 homes were affected by the damaged bridges.
“Previously, the villagers joined forces to build three alternative bridges from coconut tree trunks to replace the steel bridges swept away by the flood. We hope that the relevant parties will build a safer bridge,” he said.
Ismail Abdullah, 72, expressed concern that his pumpkins would be ready for harvest in two weeks and that he was unsure about how to transport the produce.
“How am I going to transport 30 tonnes of pumpkins? Today, I received a delivery of 500 rubber tree saplings, which I had to transport several times to my estate, located about one kilometre from one of the damaged bridges. The lorry that delivered them couldn't drive straight into my rubber estate,” he said.
Ismail said that the alternative bridges built by the villagers could last no more than six months and were unable to support heavy loads.
“It’s really not safe for cars, as coconut trunks cannot withstand floodwaters and rot quickly. I hope a permanent bridge can be built soon because it's difficult for us to carry out activities that serve as the main source of income for the residents here,” he said.
Since Sept 30, the village has experienced three waves of floods, which not only destroyed the bridges but also damaged several residents’ homes.
-- BERNAMA
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