SRB workers pump out water to reduce the stress on the pontoons.
SIBU: Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) is looking into a long-term solution to address the problem of several partially submerged pontoons at Tua Pek Kong Wharf here.
In this respect, SRB assistant controller (Region II) Hatta Morshidi says the likelihood is there for all seven pontoons to be replaced, despite only four of them being partially submerged.
“All seven pontoons are ageing, having been exposed to years of wear and tear.
“Maintenance is only a stop-gap measure, not a permanent solution.
“The only viable solution would be to replace all seven pontoons, where SRB headquarters (in Kuching) would have to come up with the best design for replacements,” he said when contacted yesterday.
According to Hatta, the partially-submerged pontoons would not pose any threat to public safety.
“Each of them is filled with polystyrene infill. They would not sink, but they would absorb water – causing them to be partially submerged,” he added.
In a statement on Sunday, Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing pointed out that the floating pier at Jalan Temple here was in a grave state of disrepair and as such, it needed urgent attention from the SRB.
He said the pier, sited adjacent to Eng Ann Teng Tua Pek Kong Temple, was sitting on the town’s main waterway transportation – in this respect, he stressed that the safety of the people using this infrastructure should be of paramount concern.
“The SRB and Public Works Department (JKR) must take immediate steps to run the necessary inspections, upgrades, and maintenance works on this floating pier and its wharf, in view of the high-volume traffic and the risks to users,” said Tiong, adding that this problem ‘had been there for a long time, but still left unresolved’.
“Must we allow a tragic accident to occur for the officials to leave their office seats and do their work?
“The SRB needs to dispatch officers to inspect the pier and wharf structures there immediately, to plan and arrange for upgrading and reconstruction works.
“This (problem) cannot wait, for the sake of the safety of hundreds of locals. Their safety must be guaranteed, instead of being left to chance,” stressed Tiong.