RANAU: Paginatan Assemblyman Datuk Rusdin Riman clarified that a viral video of a pupil crossing a bamboo bridge in Kampung Mangkelua, here, is not a public bridge serving the entire village.
Instead, it was erected by five families who decided to relocate to their privately owned land near an oil palm plantation.
Rusdin said he visited Kg Mangkelua to meet with affected villagers and identify immediate measures that could be taken to improve the safety and convenience of those using the crossing.
During the visit, Rusdin also inspected one of the temporary shelters occupied by an affected family and described the living conditions as deeply saddening.
He said many of the families had been forced to move after their previous homes were demolished as part of the Pan Borneo Highway development and are still waiting payment of compensation or ex gratia assistance.
“It was heartbreaking to witness their situation first hand. Some families have no choice but to live in makeshift shelters that remain unfinished because they have yet to receive the compensation needed to rebuild their homes,” he said.
Rusdin noted that the circumstances faced by these families reflect the hardships experienced by many others affected by the Pan Borneo project, who continue to endure difficult living conditions while waiting for their compensation claims to be resolved.
He stressed that while infrastructure development is essential for the district’s long-term progress, the welfare of communities affected by such projects must remain a priority.
