RM50,000 jetty: Kampung Mutap residents say not safe to use

SHAH ALAM - After revelations of a wooden jetty costing RM50,000 in Kampung Mutap, Miri, Sarawak, residents now say they are concerned over the safety of the jetty.

Villager Mohamad Nor Tambi, 45 said only small parts of the jetty were made of high-value "belian" wood while the rest was just some hard.

Nor further said he was surprised after the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) said that the jetty took two months to complete as it only took "three days".

"At first I was not sure why was it an issue till I read in the social media that it cost RM50,000," he was quoted in Utusan Borneo.

Nor further said the residents have raised concerns over the safety of the jetty as it should have handrails, fences and a roof for the safety and comfort of the residents.

On April 8, the Sarawak PWD uploaded a picture of the wooden jetty together with the construction cost on its Facebook page, which generated criticism from the public who assumed the cost was too expensive for a wooden jetty and urged the MACC to investigate the matter.

Bernama quoting a MACC source was reported as saying that the timber used in the RM50,000 project was genuine ‘belian’ timber and certified by experts.

According to the source, the MACC headquarters had instructed the Sarawak MACC to look into the project, which is under the state's Public Works Department (PWD), following allegations by the public that it was too expensive for a 15-metre wooden jetty.

"The results of the investigation did not find any corruption or irregularities in the project," the source said.