Kota Marudu: Some 280 people of 60 families in Kampung Tagibang, 135km from this town, have been facing a shortage of food over the last three weeks after the road to the village collapsed at several places.Kampung Tagibang Development and Security Committee Deputy Chairman, Edin Dambilang, 36, said the villagers are relying on tapioca and sweet potatoes to survive.
"The village chief, Maruda Goumuru, and I had to leave the house as early as 2am to walk to this town. We reached Kampung Piso at about 11.30am.
We are lucky to have got a ride in a timber lorry to Kota Marudu," he said here Monday.
He said the villagers could not report their problem to the authorities as floods had cut off the alternative road that links the village to Kampung Malinsau, Nawanon and Ranau.
Edin said tapioca and sweet potatoes have become the staple food for the villagers but even these stocks were being depleted as the crops were damaged by landslides and the floods.
According to Edin, if the authorities do not send food immediately to the village, there is a strong chance that famine might set in.
Meanwhile, another villager Marjita Jubin, 21, who was in labour, was lucky to reach the nearest clinic to the village in time after the villagers carried her there despite the heavy rain and landslides.
"We really hope the Government via its Ninth Malaysia Plan will provide a better road network to our village," he said.
District Officer Matius Sator, when contacted, said he had not received any report on the situation and that he would look into it.
He said the Public Works Department is building an alternative road - Jalan Marak Parak - for the village that would resolve the current communication problem.- Bernama
