PUSA: The government has been urged to expedite the implementation of two major development projects worth RM9 million in Kampung Semarang which were approved quite a while ago.
Beting Maro assemblyman Razaili Gapor said the damage suffered by Masjid Darul Ihsan after being hit by a storm last Saturday afternoon should be the main justification for why the new seawall and mosque projects should be expedited.
“The first project is the construction of an erosion barrier which costs RM6.5 million, and the second project will be the construction of a new mosque worth RM2.5 million.
“I apologise for the delay in the implementation of the two projects which are interconnected and highly expected by the people.
“Undeniably, I am sad to see Masjid Darul Ihsan demolished by big waves,” he told sister daily Suara Sarawak on Sunday (Nov 15).
He hopes the government can act accordingly as the new mosque has been approved since 2016.
“Responsible agencies should work together so that the tender process can be carried out immediately and construction work be done as soon as possible.
“I have asked the village safety and development committee (JKKK) and the mosque management committee (JKP) to demolish the mosque so that the items that can still be used will not be washed into the sea,” he said.
Touching on the issue of the seawall, Razaili said the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government has pledged to build a stronger building structure, but it was postponed by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government.
“Although the current government has agreed to continue the project but due to the movement control order (MCO), it is still delayed until today … it has not been done yet,” he said.
Meanwhile, Semarang village head Suria Azmie said the villagers are still carrying out gotong-royong work and that the Betong Division Islamic Religion Office also instructed residents to use Surau an-Nur for prayers in the meantime.
“We are still waiting for instructions from our superiors to completely demolish the mosque. The items that can be saved have been transferred to the halls and surau,” he said.
At the same time, Urban Development and Resources Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh also stopped by to check on the condition of the Darul Ihsan Mosque and helped the residents to clean up the debris at the scene.
