Tenom: Hundreds of villagers here are in no mood for independence as they have been enduring hardship because of a yet-to-be repaired railway track spanning 12km between Kg Rayoh and Kg Pangi since a landslide last October.
That’s not all, they claim SESB has done nothing about the blackout that stemmed from the landslide 10 months ago.
Former Village Head Sitong Kainsor said residents joined hands to clear the rubble on the motorcycle trolley route from Rayoh to Panggi.
“Residents who want to buy daily necessities are using the motorcycle trolley from Rayoh to Pangi station and from Pangi take a train to Tenom town.
“Trains could only operate from Hallogalat to Rayoh since July this year,” he said.
Sitong said residents also had to use motorcycle trolleys to bring their agricultural produce such as rubber to Tenom town from Pangi station.
He said although a Hitachi Excavator had been clearing rocks that penetrated the track, repairs on the damaged track had not been fixed.
A motorcycle owner is preparing a motorcycle trolley for the transportation of the residents of the village from Rayoh to Pangi.
Simon (second right) listening to the problems voiced by the Kampung Rayoh villagers during his visit to the village.
He said this inconvenienced villagers going to Tenom town, including children who attend school in SK Pangi.
“Currently the villagers are still using motorcycle trolleys to go to Pangi since Pangi to Rayoh cannot be reached by train yet,” he said.
“The State Railway Department and SESB must speed up repairs on the damaged track along Rayoh to Pangi and ensure electricity supply,” he said.
Tenom Community Development Leader, Simon Mamat confirmed the ordeal the people there are experiencing.
“I found the main problem faced is electricity supply and the communication railway that connects Rayoh to Pangi in Tenom is cut off,” he said.
“What is more painful is the problem of children who go to school, many of their parents have to rent houses close to Tenom town so that their children’s education is not interrupted,” he said.
