Missing traffic sign and markings (left) on the Jalan Penampang Lama, near Jalan Shantung Baru.
Lee (second left) showing the slanting electrical posts to Chiew (right) at Jalan Shantung Baru yesterday.
PENAMPANG: Frequent road accidents, slanting electrical posts and landslides were among the concerns shared by the residents, community leaders and management of Suria Penampang commercial centre, here, located at Jalan Penampang Lama and Jalan Shantung Baru.
Helping them in voicing these concerns was the president of the newly-formed Persatuan Hak Asasi Rakyat Sabah (Sabah People’s Rights Association), Lee Pun Yee, who invited representatives from the Public Works Department (PWD) and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) for an inspection yesterday.
Lee pointed out that the missing ‘stop’ sign and marking on the stretch of Jalan Penampang Lama where it intersects with Jalan Shantung Baru, often left road users confused as to who has the rights of passage when it comes to that particular intersection.
Penampang PWD assistant engineer Mohd Haniff Mohd Arshad, who was there at the inspection site, disclosed that the 500-meter road which connects the old Jalan Penampang Lama to a shorter route was opened by the developer of the Suria Penampang commercial centre.
However, he said having heard the concerns from Lee and the others, the PWD would contact the developer to set up traffic signs, including a ‘stop’ sign, and road markings.
“It will take approximately one week,” he said.
Meanwhile, there were also two electrical posts which were slanting from the original position and which the residents and tenants were worried might fall down.
Chan Kam Chuen of the WTW Property, the management of the Suria Penampang Commercial Centre, opined that the absence of a proper drainage system along Jalan Penampang Lama contributed to the leaning position of the electrical posts.
The absence of such facility, he said, led to rainwater falling down the hill where the electrical posts are located.
“There should be drains along both sides of the road, especially considering that this particular road is downhill, which means that there needs to be proper drainage system for rainwater dispersal,” said Chan.
At this juncture, Lee and chairman of the Jawatankuasa Kemasyarakatan Dalam Bandar for Jindo and Shantung, Kung Yung Sang, also suggested that a caged-stonewall barrier be installed along the hill slopes to prevent landslides.
SESB electrical engineer Aldrige Victor Chiew, who was also at the site yesterday, said that SESB would need to arrange for a power shutdown to make way for repair works.
“It would take approximately a day,” he said, adding that generator sets would be provided to the nearby affected areas, and SESB would try to work on the matter with minimal impact to the surrounding areas.
However, he said the start of the repair work would depend on the decision of the complainants, whether or not they would want to construct the stonewall barrier prior to repairing the electrical posts.
“This is to avoid doing double tasks, as setting the electrical posts straight without taking measures to prevent the landslide first would lead the posts to slant again in the future,” said Chiew.