The warehouse manager, Hong Leng Feng, said he became aware of the incident after receiving a call from residents living near the warehouse.

“All these mandarin oranges were supplies for the whole of Kelantan, with most supermarkets in Kota Bharu sourcing their stock from this warehouse,” he told reporters at the scene.

According to him, the warehouse had been in operation for about 40 years but was completely destroyed in the fire. This is expected to affect the supply of mandarin oranges for this year’s Chinese New Year celebration.

“All of the onion supplies stored in the warehouse were also destroyed,” he said.

Kelantan fire and rescue department assistant director of operations Fadhlizil Iqram Ahmad Pauzi said his department received an emergency call via the NG999 system at 9.09pm and dispatched several teams to the location.

The first team arrived at 9.16pm. The firefighting operations were carried out by personnel from the Kota Bharu fire and rescue station, assisted by the Kota Darulnaim, Tunjung and Pengkalan Chepa fire and rescue stations.

Firefighters were forced to use a skylift due to difficulties entering the warehouse following the collapse of storage racks. Fadhlizil said the cause of the blaze and the estimated losses remain under investigation.

He said two lorries and two motorcycles were also destroyed, while the warehouse itself was completely gutted.

KUCHING (Feb 2): Kuching South Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng’s recent response to public complaints about a collapsed stretch of drain at Lorong Rock 1 here did not address the core issue, said Michael Kong.

The special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen said the mayor’s clarification seemed like an attempt to hide behind timelines and procedures.

Kong said the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) claimed that on-site inspections were conducted on Nov 8 and 11 last year, but questioned why no action was taken before the collapse.

“Had MBKS acted when members of the public lodged reports about the deteriorating condition of the drain, the situation could have been rectified earlier, more efficiently, and at a far lower cost.

“Instead, inaction allowed the problem to worsen until it resulted in an actual collapse,” he said in a statement.

Kong said what is more concerning is that MBKS is now saying a tender will only be called on Feb 16.

He pointed out that the deteriorated condition was identified in November last year, yet more than two months later the matter is still only at the tender stage.

“This is unacceptable for a case involving a collapsed drain, visible underground soil erosion, and the risk posed to nearby infrastructure and public safety,” he said.

In such situations, he stressed, authorities cannot continue to hide behind “procedures” as an excuse for prolonged delays.

“Procedures exist to ensure accountability, not to paralyse urgent action,” he said, adding that when public safety is at stake, emergency remedial works should take precedence, even while longer-term processes are being completed in parallel.

Given this, he said the mayor’s remark that there is no need to constantly report on the pretext that Kong does not pay his salary “is deeply arrogant and misplaced”.

Kong said the public has every right to raise issues repeatedly when nothing is being done.

“As the Mayor, he is answerable to all residents who pay assessment rates, parking fees and other charges to MBKS. These contributions are made with the expectation that basic infrastructure will be maintained promptly and responsibly.

“MBKS must stop reacting only after failures occur. Preventive action is always cheaper, faster and safer than crisis management after a collapse,” he added.

On Sunday, Wee denied allegations that MBKS ignored public complaints about the collapsed drain, saying the claims did not reflect the actual sequence of events or the council’s efforts.

He said this in response to Kong’s earlier statement alleging that MBKS had disregarded long-standing complaints about cracks along the drain and implied that action was only taken after conditions worsened.

GUA MUSANG, Feb 2 — Work to repair the slope along route FT185, Section 107.6, Jalan Lojing-Gua Musang here is expected to begin in March, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said they would initially construct a temporary road diversion so that the route could be reopened to motorists.

“The Slope Engineering Branch of the Public Works Department (JKR), as the project director, would be given the responsibility of planning, managing and supervising the slope’s maintenance work.

“The long-term contract for the implementation of maintenance work for this slope reflects the Madani government’s concern and commitment to continue improving the quality of road infrastructure, including slopes, for the comfort and safety of road users,” he said.

He told reporters this after surveying the sites of packages 3B and 3C of the Lingkaran Tengah Utama (LTU) project here today, which was also attended by Kelantan JKR director Nik Badlihisham Nik Ismail.

The route had to be fully closed to all types of vehicles due to a landslide on December 3 last year.

In another development, Nanta said the government has also allocated RM96 million to upgrade the East-West Highway (JRTB), involving the section in Kelantan.

He also said that preliminary work for the project could commence this year, and hoped that some of it could be physically implemented next year. — Bernama 

GUA MUSANG – Kerja pembinaan kawasan cerun atau tebing bukit di Kilometer (KM) 45, Jalan Gua Musang-Lojing yang runtuh pada awal Disember lalu dijalankan bermula bulan depan.

Menteri Kerja Raya, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi berkata, pihaknya memahami kesulitan yang perlu dihadapi oleh pengguna jalan dan penduduk sekitar akibat penutupan laluan itu.

Katanya, Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) memberi kelulusan kepada Cawangan Kejuruteraan Cerun (CKC) dan Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) pada 30 Januari lalu bagi melaksanakan segera kerja pembaikan lokasi runtuhan secara Arahan Kerja (AK) yang akan dilaksanakan oleh pihak kontraktor.

“Syarikat Pintas Utama Sdn. Bhd. iaitu kontraktor jangka panjang yang dilantik bagi membantu kerajaan melaksanakan kerja-kerja pembaikan cerun berdasarkan keperluan dan kelulusan oleh KKR.

“Kerja-kerja awalan melibatkan penyiasatan tapak, ukur tanah dan reka bentuk terperinci akan dimulakan segera. Kerja-kerja pembinaan pula dijangka dimulakan pada awal Mac ini dengan pembinaan (lencongan sementara) agar laluan itu dapat dibuka semula kepada pengguna jalan,” katanya semasa mengadakan Lawatan Kerja Rasmi Ke Tapak Projek Lingkaran Tengah Utama (LTU) Pakej 3B dan 3C di sini hari ini.

Mengulas lanjut, Alexander memberitahu, CKC selaku Pengarah Projek dipertanggungjawabkan untuk merancang, mengurus dan menyelia kerja-kerja penyelenggaraan cerun terbabit.

Kosmo! sebelum ini melaporkan, pergerakan air bawah tanah dipercayai menjadi punca berlakunya runtuhan jalan di KM 45 Jalan Gua Musang-Lojing, berhampiran Pos Blau di sini pada 3 Disember lalu.