-Bernama filepic
SANDAKAN: The Federal Government has agreed to rebuild the suspension bridges in Penampang and Tuaran that were damaged by floods, allocating RM1mil through the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the reconstruction was in response to the urgent need for transportation routes for the local communities in both districts.
“This immediate action is a proactive measure following the floods that struck several districts starting on June 30.
“According to the detailed reports received, the incident affected 485 victims in both districts and Putatan,” he said in a statement after attending a briefing by the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee here yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid, also the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said he had directed the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to make three sets of bailey bridges, each 39m long, capable of bearing loads of up to 50 tonnes at a time.
According to Bernama, this is a preparatory measure in case there is an urgent need to replace collapsed bridges.
He added that the Mineral and Geoscience Department had also been instructed to conduct studies in landslide areas near the foothills of Mount Kinabalu in Mesilau, Kundasang, following continuous heavy rain on June 23.
Nadma will coordinate this to identify necessary actions.
Ahmad Zahid said the Federal Government had allocated RM10mil to address the impact of drought in the nation, with Sabah being one of the affected states.
