A distressing incident occurred on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, when several Pulau Gaya residents fell into the sea following a bridge collapse. The victims were in the midst of celebrating the festivities when the structure gave way.
A statement from the Tanjung Aru State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) Office confirmed the incident, urging the government to take the maintenance of bridges and other public facilities seriously to ensure such a tragedy is not repeated.
Aftermath of the collapse
Photos attached to the social media post show the aftermath of the wooden bridge’s collapse. Several individuals in traditional Baju Melayu can be seen near the site, including one person whose festive outfit was completely drenched, presumably after falling into the water.
The Tanjung Aru ADUN Office stated, “On this first day of Hari Raya, the ADUN Office received deeply saddening news. While our friends and neighbours are joyfully celebrating Aidilfitri after a month of fasting, a bridge in Kampung Selamat, Lok Kurai, Pulau Gaya, was reported to have collapsed, resulting in several residents falling into the sea.”
“It is truly heartbreaking that this incident befell those who were dressed in their new clothes and preparing to celebrate this day of victory, only to be met with such an unexpected ordeal,” the statement added.
Urgent call for infrastructure maintenance
Consequently, the Tanjung Aru ADUN Office called on the government to give serious attention to the issue, specifically in ensuring the regular maintenance and monitoring of public facilities like bridges, especially those that are dilapidated and high-risk.
“Such conditions not only threaten safety but can lead to serious injuries to the public. We hope that immediate action will be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future,” it added.
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