KUCHING: A long awaited but delayed traffic light project has become a contentious issue for the Kota Samarahan Municipal Council.
Fed up with having to endure hours-long traffic snarls, residents there have been venting their frustration on the council, and, in particular, its chairman Datuk Peter Minos.
On Wednesday (Jan 12) an exasperated Minos appealed to the Public Works Department (PWD) to get going with the project at three Kota Samarahan roundabouts.
“The council can no longer keep quiet,” he said, adding, “and it is unfair to have to bear with public criticisms and their anger every day.”
MPKS chairman Datuk Peter Minos said in a press statement here today that the public in Samarahan could not accept the project delays and a sudden stoppage of work.
“The massive traffic jams at peak hours at the three roundabouts are getting worse now with the raining season.
“Just imagine traffic jams from 5 to 8 both mornings and evenings. Imagine taking up to three hours driving through the jams from Kota Samarahan to Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya. Imagine the stress and strain caused,” he said.
“They are losing patience. We at the council also cannot take it. It is getting on our nerves.”
According the Minos the project’s ground-breaking was done over a year ago by the Chief Minister, much to the relief of motorists there.
“Now they are very disappointed and unhappy. They vent their anger on me and on the council, unaware that the project is that of PWD.”
He said the council had lobbied for the funding from the Chief Minister way back in November 2017.
“Now that the Covid pandemic is appearing to be almost gone and Sarawak is in Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan, the council is urging PWD to get its contractor to re-start working on the traffic light project and get it done and completed soonest,” he said.
