JKR to use emergency fund for repair works in Pitas

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Public Works Department (JKR) will use the emergency allocation to carry out repair works in flood-hit Pitas district.

State JKR Director Ali Ahmad Hamid (pic) said among the remedial works were several stretches of flooded roads and a damaged bridge at Sungai Paparoun Telaga Pitas, following a downpour earlier this week. He said the department would be utilising the fund to expedite works and connectivity to the affected villages as soon as possible.

“JKR and district engineers have already visited the areas to gauge the damage and prepare the reports. We will come up with an estimate of the repair costs soonest,” he said.

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On Thursday, he led a team to inspect the site of the broken bridge. Among the damaged roads were Jalan Suang Duyung-Layak at Km 0.25 and Km 4.25 stretches, about 50km from Pitas town.

Ali Ahmad said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also State Works Minister, has been briefed on the flood situation affecting Pitas.

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Bung had ordered the department to take immediate action.

Pitas was one of the districts flooded following heavy rainfall and high-tide phenomenon, which also saw some landslides occurring. Some 13 villages with 4,000 residents lost connectivity when the bridge collapsed and was washed away by the strong currents on Monday.

Ali Ahmad also said the department was in the midst of carrying out cleaning-up works and maintenance on roads affected by soil erosion.