By Stephen Then
MIRI: The food shortage problem in central Sarawak has been worsened after a timber company dismantled an iron bridge that links up to 3,000 people living inside the remote areas.

Efforts to send food aid to the Penans have now been seriously hampered.

Yesterday, more than 1,600 packets of rice weighing 16,000kg were despatched by donors through the Catholic Church.

However, the food supply is stuck at the Sungai Asap settlement, about 50km from the Bakun Dam, as timber lorries used to deliver the food cannot cross the Sungai Linau after the dismantling of the bridge.

The timber concession area was earmarked for flooding this October to create a reservoir for the dam.

Reverend Father Sylvester Ding, aid collection co-ordinator, said it would take a long time to carry food aid across the river by boat.

“We are in a dilemma as to how to send the food to Lusong Laku settlement and SRK Lusong Laku where the food shortage is most acute.

“We have no choice but to seek help from the locals to transport the food across the river.

“We will also try to reach five other settlements near the Indonesian border by other routes. We hope the weather will be favourable, as it has been a few weeks since supply reached those in need,” he said.

The Star journalist who joined the food aid mission saw a truck laden with food items stranded at the Sungai Asap settlement.

On Aug 7, the timber company clarified that the iron bridge was only built in March, and that the Penans in the area had been able to travel to Bintulu or Kapit before the bridge was built.

The company spokesman also said it was untrue the natives in the interior would be cut off without the bridge, adding that the company had helped the local communities in various ways, such as helping them build longhouses or provide jobs.

The spokesman was responding to an earlier story in Sunday Star saying that the timber company planned to dismantle the bridge as it was pulling out of the area after completing its logging activities.

The decision was reported to have caused an uproar among the natives. – The Star