KOTA KINABALU: A local non-？governmental organisation, Hope Malaysia, is seeking partners to urgently help villagers rebuild a dilapidated 200-metre hanging bridge and provide clean water to villagers of Kampung Melangkap Tiong in Kota Belud district, about 90km from here.

       Hope Malaysia spokesman Aaron Bosuang said that the children in the village have been risking their safety using the unsafe hanging bridge to get to their school, SK Melangkap, while the 700 villagers did not have proper water supply.

       Hope Malaysia, which has been carrying out livelihood projects in the Kota Belud area, is seeking assistance from the private sector to support their initiative to repair or replace the hanging bridge and also to help build a proper water system.“The 200m-long hanging bridge is about 100m above a fast flowing river, and it has been the main access for children to cross the river to their school.

       “But now the bridge is a hazard for its users, and it has worn out and deteriorated due to the effects of bad weather and floods.

       “The wooden planks on the bridge are mostly broken and fragile, some parts of the damaged wire mesh holding the bridge have caused injuries when some children slipped through the gaps,” he said in a statement.

       He said the villagers are still using the bridge as the alternative route was longer and took about 30 to 45 minutes more.

       “The villagers have been appealing for help since 2017, but no action has been taken,” he said.

       Issues on dilapidated hanging bridges in many areas across Sabah have been brought up from time to time.

       Aaron can be reached at +60109072801 or email at pr.hopesmalaysia@gmail.com. Visit www.hopesmalaysia.com/ourwork for more on their rural work.