KUCHING: Michael Kong, special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen urged the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) to act immediately to stop heavy lorries from causing further damage to residential roads in Batu Kawah.
Kong said he had received multiple complaints from residents of Lotak Villas regarding the increasing number of heavy lorries using Jalan Kwong Thiong, a road within the residential area.
Recently he conducted a site visit and witnessed the severity of the road damage for himself and noticed that at one section, the asphalt had been pushed aside by the weight and movement of the lorries, forming mounds of tar even higher than the roadside curb. The road is no longer flat and has become not only unsightly but also dangerous to road users, he said.
He stressed that the narrow residential roads were never designed to support such heavy loads and that the damage was primarily caused by the extreme pressure exerted by the lorries, especially when navigating turns.
“It is deeply troubling that despite repeated complaints from residents, MPP has yet to take any concrete action. Residents should not be left to suffer due to the inaction or indifference of the local authority,” Kong pointed out.
He called on MPP to take immediate measures, including engaging the project developers who employ the heavy lorries and issuing stern warnings and urged the council to consider enforcement action, including stop work orders if the damage continues.
Kong suggested the installation of clear road signage to limit the access of heavy vehicles within the residential zone, and coordination with the Sarawak Road Transport Department (JPJ), who have expressed readiness to enforce road weight restrictions.
“Local councils like MPP have a responsibility to protect residents’ safety, property, and living environment. If damage is caused by private developments or commercial activity, the council must stand up for the people, not leave them to bear the consequences,” he said.
By Connie Chieng