SANDAKAN: A brief mishap during a walkabout in Kampung Sim Sim has once again drawn attention to the long-standing concerns over the condition of wooden bridges in Sandakan’s water villages.
A volunteer accompanying Parti Warisan’s N56 Tanjong Papat candidate Alex Thien slipped through a rotting side plank and fell into the sea on Wednesday (Nov 19).
He escaped with only a minor injury, but the incident underscored the risks faced daily by residents who rely on these walkways.
Thien said the bridge where the incident occurred had only undergone partial repairs - the front section had been fixed earlier, while the side panels remained untouched and were badly weathered.
He added that several nearby bridges were also in poor shape, reflecting a wider maintenance problem that has persisted for years.
"These are daily routes for families, schoolchildren and elderly residents. They should be safe to use," he said when contacted, adding that some of the walkways had been deteriorating for a long time.
He also dismissed social media claims that the incident was staged, saying no one would risk their safety for attention.
Sandakan’s coastline is dotted with water villages, where homes on stilts are connected by long stretches of timber bridges.
In Batu Sapi alone, which includes the N54 Karamunting and N53 Sekong state seats, 14 island-zone water villages are housing more than 1,000 families, in addition to another 14 water villages along the coastal strip.
For communities here, these bridges are essential daily routes. Their upkeep has long featured in campaign promises by candidates across the political spectrum.
Yet villagers say the issue is rarely fully resolved, as wooden bridges continue to age and weaken unless they are eventually replaced with concrete structures.
Sim Sim, one of Sandakan’s oldest water villages, dates back to 1879 and comprises about 900 houses and more than 7,000 residents.
While repairs have been carried out over the years, many sections remain affected by weathering and age, leaving residents repeatedly calling for safer, long-term solutions.
