The District Office will make an immediate rectification on a recently-completed suspension bridge in Kg Babagon Atas, here, following a complaint to Daily Express from the residents who fear to use it unless elevated above the ground level.

The residents want the relevant authorities to consider raising the height of the bridge, which was completed last month, for safety reasons.

District Officer Henry Idol said the decision to rectify the suspension bridge was made in a meeting called following the complaint and attended by relevant officials involved in building the bridge.

He said they agreed to raise the height of the bridge soon as possible.

“Penampang District Office is the executor of the project. When the suspension bridge was completed on Nov 21, we also found that the height of the bridge is quite low and exposed to major floods.

“In light of this, our assistant engineer and a representative from the Penampang Parliamentary Office visited the site to see the problem and find ways to address it. 

“Hence, a meeting was held and a decision reached to do the necessary rectification on the bridge so that the residents could use it without fear,” he told Daily Express, Friday.

He was commenting on a report on Friday which said the residents of Kg Babagon Atas are grateful that a new suspension bridge was built to facilitate their daily routines but are, however, afraid to use it as its deck was built very close to the surface of the river.

A villager, speaking on behalf of fellow villagers, said recent incessant rain had almost destroyed the entire deck of the bridge due to strong river currents underneath.

She was reported as saying that she noticed the deck was swaying continuously which made it difficult and scary to walk on it at that time.

She said the residents are reluctant to use the bridge for fear that it will be swept away by the raging water while walking on it.

Hence, the residents called on the relevant authorities to raise the new bridge by several feet above ground level for safety reasons. 

Henry advised the public not to make unfounded speculations and if there were any questions, he could be contacted directly at the District Office.