LONG LAMA: Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau believes that land clearing for the purpose of Long Lama RGC near the Long Lama clinic may have caused the cracks and land movement at the front of the clinic building.
“The soil erosion started after land clearing took place in and around Long Lama RGC in our effort to develop the RGC surrounding,” he said.
He said there was no construction taking place, after years since Long Lama RGC was launched in the 1980s development had been very slow.
He had requested the Sarawak government to clear the RGC compound area where the district’s office, clinic and Marudi District Council sub office are located, and was approved.
“What happened indeed surprised me as the clinic is located on stable ground, and before this, no case of even a tiny landslide happened,” he pointed out.
Public Works Department (JKR) engineers from Kuala Lumpur and Miri rushed to investigate the site last Friday, June 26.
“We are waiting for their findings and advice,” he said.
“I have also informed Penghulu Desmond Yap, who is the chairman of the clinic visitors board, to inform Dr Samuel, the clinic head, to seek advice from the divisional health office on what to do next.
“If we need to close the clinic temporarily, I suggest the Marudi District Council just complete a sub office nearby to be used as a temporary clinic,” Dennis disclosed.
“I’m in communication with our people and monitoring the situation closely,” he added.
“Patients, clinic staff and the public at large are of paramount importance to me. Whatever takes place, we must ensure that those who seek medical attention must be served regardless of where.”
He stressed that a retention wall must be constructed to prevent any further damage to the clinic building, including how to divert rainwater.
“I suspect rainwater may be one the causes as it seeps into the surrounding areas underneath of the clinic. We leave it to the experts on what to do next,” he said.
On another matter, Dennis also commented about the current project － the construction and completion of earthworks and infrastructure work for RGC Centre in Long Lama － that started on Dec 11 last year is expected to be completed on Oct 10 this year.
