Kpg Dagang Sepupok villagers threaten to block MCMC telco tower contractor over damaged road

MIRI (March 3): Residents of Kampung Dagang Sepupok in Niah are warning that they may bar the contractor of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) from entering their village if their grievances over worsening road conditions are not addressed.

The villagers are calling for immediate repairs to the damaged road, restrictions on fuel delivery frequency and load limits, and a monthly RM5,000 community contribution from the telecommunications company involved in a nearby tower project.

In a statement on the Kpg Dagang Sepupok Niah Facebook page, the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) said it “strongly objects” to the telecommunications tower project, alleging that the contractor had neglected residents’ welfare.

The village urged the Communications Ministry, the MCMC, and elected representatives for Bekenu Datuk Rosey Yunus and Sibuti Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni to intervene and help reach an amicable solution.

The JKKK also called for the tower’s operations to be halted until an agreement is reached, claiming the project proceeded without proper consent despite earlier discussions on the proposed site.

According to the statement, after a second meeting with village representatives, the contractor allegedly failed to engage further and later relocated the tower to a privately owned plot without informing the JKKK.

The committee said there was also no agreement on the use of village roads for maintenance work or diesel deliveries to power the tower’s generator.

The road, maintained by the Subis District Council and repaired under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (Marris) allocation in September 2025, was built at a width of three metres, suitable only for the village’s scheduled refuse lorry — the heaviest vehicle permitted.

However, the JKKK said the road began deteriorating within four months and is now severely damaged, making it difficult for low-clearance vehicles to pass.

The committee blamed the damage on overloaded vehicles transporting fuel to the tower site, alleging that while the contractor’s lorries are smaller than the rubbish truck, they carried excessive loads.

The committee noted that visible damage along certain stretches corresponded with the movement of these vehicles.

Complaints from residents have increased during communal activities, including a recent gotong-royong involving seven villages to clean the Lubuk Atu Islamic cemetery — which recently became accessible by road for the first time after decades of river-only access.

Villagers expressed disappointment that the road’s poor condition has now affected this access.

While reaffirming support for the government’s rural broadband efforts under the Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) initiative, the JKKK stressed that development should not sideline villagers’ welfare and safety.

The JKKK also warned that if no agreement is reached, the village will not hesitate to impose a blockade on access to the tower site.