Villagers unable to market produce due to road
Published on: Friday, June 28, 2024
By: Ahmad Apong
The rocky and uneven road leading to KPD in Lotok.
SIPITANG: Residents here urge the Public Works Department to upgrade the roads in the Rural Development Cooperative Area (KPD), especially along the old Lotok road.
PBRS Sindumin Women’s Wing Chief, Maria Samuel, said the condition of the road connecting Kg Kaban, Kg Melamam, Kg Damai and even Kg Marau is unmaintained and filled with large stones.
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“No small vehicles can pass except for four-wheel drives.
“Not all the villagers have four-wheel drive vehicles.
“The road is the only one villagers can count on to collect and sell their agricultural produce, yet it has been neglected,” she said, recently.
Villagers from the Lotok area make a living on planting durian, oil palm, rubber and others.
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“The people who tried to produce their agricultural produce but failed to market it due to the bad roads caused them misery.
“They are farmers who mostly belong to the B40 group, it will be more difficult when their agriculture cannot be marketed.
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“Also, during an emergency, it’s very difficult for the ambulance and Fire Department to reach the villages involved.
“At the same time, the bridge that connects to several villages is also not maintained because it is overgrown with grass that obstructs vision.
“Such poor road connectivity hampers the effort to free the people from poverty,” she said.
Maria hopes the problem will be highlighted by the people’s representatives, Sipitang Member of Parliament and Malaysia Cocoa Board Chairman, Datuk Matbali Musah and Sindumin Assemblyman and Qhazanah Sabah Berhad Chairman, Datuk Dr Yussof Yaacob.
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