SIBU: The tragedy involving a two-year-old boy who died after falling into an open manhole in Jalan Wong Soon Kai on Tuesday is looked upon seriously by the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Datuk Michael Tiang Ming Tee.
In a press conference held at the Pelawan Service Centre on Wednesday, Datuk Michael Tiang expressed his condolences and sympathy to the victim's family and described the incident as a very sorrowful tragedy that should not have happened.
"This tragedy highlights a long-standing public safety issue. Whether this infrastructure is under the jurisdiction of the local authority or a federal agency such as the Public Works Department (JKR), proactive action must be taken immediately," he stressed.
Datuk Michael Tiang urged the Sibu Municipal Council (MPS), Sibu Divisional Public Works and the Sibu Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) to immediately conduct a comprehensive survey in their respective areas to identify and replace any missing or damaged manhole covers.
According to him, he had contacted the MPS Chairman, Sibu Divisional Public Works Engineer, and Sibu DID engineers to request immediate attention and collaborative action to address the issue.
The Pelawan Assemblyman also urged the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to take strict action against individuals involved in the theft and illegal trade of scrap metal, including manhole covers.
“This irresponsible action endangers the lives of the public and must be stopped immediately,” he stressed.
In his statement, he also stressed that the safety of urban and town areas is the responsibility of all parties, especially in efforts to protect children.
“We must use this incident as a starting point to strengthen precautionary measures and increase cooperation between all parties to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again,” he said.
This incident serves as a reminder to all parties to be more responsive to public safety aspects and the urgent need to monitor and maintain basic infrastructure in public hotspots. -UKASnews
