BN's Empty Promises....Bridge over troubled....

SEMPORNA: The community of Pulau Bum-Bum, an island off Semporna, is wondering what happened to the promise made by the Government before the l2th General Election of a bridge linking the island to the mainland.

A committee member of Umno Semporna branch, who was an officer of the Community Development Department of Sulabayan during the PBS era, Amir Salleh Abdul Rahman, 53, said the time has come for the Sulabayan assemblyman to stand up regarding the matter at the State Legislative Assembly.
“The bridge is something the community has been waiting for a long time. Currently, the only means of getting to the mainland is by boat.

“I was told that the assemblyman concerned did not voice out this matter during the recent State Legislative Assembly sitting.

"What's the point of having the ‘People First' concept when the priority of the people in Pulau Bum-Bum has yet to materialise?” he ask.

“This matter should have been brought up during the recent State Legislative Assembly sitting. To my understanding, the Federal Government has been looking at this matter for a long time. However, nothing has been done, perhaps due to low co-operation from the State level," said Amir.

Construction of a 2km bridge linking Pulau Bum-Bum to the mainland was first proposed in 2005.

"lf I'm not mistaken, it was announced and approved by (Tun) Abdullah Badawi, twice before, " said Amir, a native of Pulau Bum-Bum.

"lt has been six years since the proposal was made, yet we are still waiting for it to materialise.

“We depend on boat service to reach the mainland and are charged RM12 each to go to Semporna mainland (RM2 boat fare and RM10 car rental)," he said, adding this could be used by the opposition in the coming l3th General Election.

The Sulabayan assemblyman, Amir said, should give priority to the bridge issue and stand up for the community of Pulau Bum-Bum who are constantly faced with poverty.

"Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mahamed paid a visit to the island before and witnessed the success of the community there in managing the seaweed industry in Lok Butun which received a lot of help from the State Govemment through the Ministry of Rural Development,” he said.

By Ibrahim Tabir DE