The video uploaded by Siti Zaharah was viewed 826,000 times and shared more than 24,000 times in just three hours.
The caption read, “My daughter is so determined to go to school that she has to brave herself to cross this ‘sophisticated’ bridge. Already a year and still there is no change, the hanging bridge of Bukit Bentong in Kuala Lipis.”
However, Siti Zaharah later posted an update on her Facebook page that Jelai assemblyman Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had met her and her husband to explain that a new bridge would be built on Jan 8.
She thanked Wan Rosdy and apologised to him for uploading her video.
In another video uploaded to the page by Friends of PDRM (police), Wan Rosdy called Siti Zaharah’s video a “misunderstanding”.
“There is in fact an alternative route, but because of the rainy season, the alternative route could not be used.
“We have also provided village security and development committee (JKKK) boats as an option but it is okay, maybe this is just the determination of a mother wanting to send her child to school.
“This matter is now resolved and, god willing, the new bridge will be built on the 8th but that depends on the weather.
“I appreciate that we could discuss the matter as a family and I have advised him (the husband) to always prioritise safety.”
Social media users had expressed their anger at the risk the man and child were taking to cross the bridge.
Muhamad Faiz commented, “Are they waiting for someone to die before taking action?”
Another Facebook user, Kumaraguru Manokaran, wrote, “Hope state and federal government can safe (sic) their life, don’t wait until someone meets with an accident or die.”
Other users were also outraged and called for action to improve the condition of the bridge.
Zaizilawati Abdul Aziz posted: “To the authorities, I hope you destroy the bridge before any tragedy occurs. Pity the children that might become victims over the stubbornness of some individuals.”
Ramaili Andema commented, “This needs to be helped, make a safer bridge.”
https://www.facebook.com/fopdrm/videos/1488748827847282/
https://www.facebook.com/siti.zaharah.7370013/videos/217239532186650/