PROBLEM CULVERT AT KAMPUNG TANAKI PENAMPANG REPLACED, BUT... REPLACEMENT MAYBE WORSE

 

The ORIFICE culver of Kampung Tanaki, Penampang 

 

In situ concrete box culvert under construction but terrible workmanship 

 

PENAMPANG.  A flood-causing concrete culvert pipe less than 1 metre diameter under a high embankment road at Kg Tanaki here, is finally being replaced.

Installed when the road was built about 3 decades ago, crossing a rivulet in the village, the undersized culvert bluntly called  "orifice" is not to JKR specification, hence easily clogged causing flooding upstream. Pic 1.

Daily reported the village was still flooded under hot sun on 16 February when Member of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedict and Kapayan Assemblywoman Janie Lasimbang came to inspect after being informed by the residents.

The upgrading works though welcomed is causing massive traffic jams during peak hours, though temporary may still take 2 months to complete.  Residents nearby said its unnecesary waste of time and taxpayers money compared to installing the proper culvert size earlier.  In addition,  excavation and filling up of a good road also damaged water pipelines to the villagers.

Tunelling under the high road embankment is either too expensive or  technology not available, a netizen said.

Adding further worries, the in-situ casting of a concrete box culvert by a new contractor is described as "Very Bad Workmanship" by retired JKR engineer and an experienced contractor.  As seen in pic 2, the concreting seemed to be mixing with soil while the two layers of BRC reinforcings have no spacing. Hence the concrete cube test taken on site is meaningless, according to another engineer.

Netizens are also asking how long will this new culvert last before collapsing.  They also request the government to monitor all other culverts being installed especially the Pan Borneo project which has been alleged to cause floods.

 

 

 

YB DUN KAPAYAN JANIE LASIMBANG LAUNCHED RETORT FOOD "HERO MEALS" AT WISMA IDS

 

 Janie with the rest of officials

The types of dish available from Kendera Kitchen

KAPAYAN.  Assemblywoman Janie Lasimbang promised to introduce to the State Government a new pre-packed emergency ration food named "Hero Meals" designed specially for disaster relief operations such as floods and earthquakes.

She said this while launching and distributing samples of the rations to bodies usually involved during disasters such as Bomba,  Civil Defence, District Office and NGOs such as PACOS at IDS Hall here.

She said food is the first thing needed both by the victims and rescuers during any disaster and shall be distributed in a fair manner without any religious, racial or political overtones.

The Hero Meals are packed with lables, "not for sale" and one of the main sponsor is CIMB Bank.  The lady representative informed the bank has sponsored  up to 250 thousand ringgits for the country of which 10 thousand is allocated to Sabah for now.

Meanwhile CEO of Kembara Kitchen William Cheah said he started  developing this fast ration meals taking inspiration from the Military rations after the largest recorded flood in Kelantan in 2014, described by others as "tsunami-like disaster".

Cheah said, " although we are in the food business, we found it impossible to assist in supply and preparation of food in disaster areas where water supply, electricity and other means of food preparation are all not available."

A lot of effort were done to get the correct ingredients to ensure it preserve well in the packets so all that is needed is to open the packet and its ready to eat or warmed in hot water if available, he said.

Penampang is also chosen to be the first packaging centre in the state at Pacos centre and plans are afoot to have other centres at Kudat and Sandakan area, to ensure preparedness for any disaster.

Hero Meals currently is available in seven types of dish which are: Rice Basmathi with curry chicken, Arab Rice with Nohutlu Tavuk, Rice Basmathi with curry vegetable, Rice Basmathi with Dalca, Fatty Rice with Sambal Sotong, Yellow Rice with Chicken Curry and Spaghetti Bolognese with chicken.

 

(article previously rejected by Daily Express)