PWD To Assess Condition Of Wooden Bridge At Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Gaharu

IPOH, June 11 (Bernama) -- The Public Works Department (PWD/JKR) will conduct an assessment on the condition of the wooden bridge at Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Gaharu, Tapah, before any further decisions are made on the matter.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said that the proposed infrastructure upgrade must be evaluated based on actual needs, including the number of users and the types of vehicles utilising the area.

“We discussed this matter during the State Executive Council (MMK) meeting yesterday, and this issue was also previously brought up by the former Chenderiang State Assemblyman (ADUN), Datuk Dr. Mah Hang Soon.

“Every application will first be scrutinised in terms of justification, including the volume of users who will utilise the facility and the frequency of heavy vehicles and cars passing through it. If the usage is very low, it would not be worthwhile to build an advanced bridge; a suspension bridge would suffice,” he said.

He said this when met after officiating the Launch Ceremony of the Perak State-Level Falak Month for the Year 1448H/2026 at the Impiana Hotel, here today.

On June 9, Chenderiang State Assemblyman (ADUN) Choong Shin Heng explained that he would submit an application for the construction of a new bridge at Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Gaharu to replace the existing dilapidated facility, which was built using only basic materials such as bamboo and wooden planks.

The bridge, which was built two years ago, was the location where female hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, was found after she went missing while hiking at Gunung Batu Putih, Tapah, on May 24.

Regarding rewards or contributions for the Orang Asli individuals who found Jaslinda, Saarani said that the matter is currently being refined, as the official report regarding the incident has not been received yet.

-- BERNAMA