KOTA KINABALU: Monkeys and crocodiles are creating havoc for the people of Gum-Gum, who also have to cope with poor infrastructure and internet facilities, as well as frequent flash floods, says the constituency's assemblyman.
Arunarnsin Taib of Parti Warisan said he has received multiple reports of wildlife nuisance, which includes monkeys raiding homes, destroying crops, stealing fruits, damaging eggs and disturbing livestock.
"Smallholders who plant fruits sometimes do not even get any harvest, because monkeys would pluck and eat the produce before it even ripens," he said in the state assembly on Tuesday (Dec 16).
"These monkeys love destroying chicken eggs. It’s fine if they eat the eggs, but no – they eat as if they are rich people. They eat a little, then throw it, take another egg, taste a bit, throw it, and repeat," he added.
He also pointed out that there have been several crocodile attacks in the constituency and wanted to know what long-term, concrete measures will be taken to address the problem.
On infrastructure, he said roads in many villages were damaged to the point that villagers had to buy their own cement to patch them up.
Land issues, cemetery land management, unlit street lamps, and dry water taps were other pressing problems that the state government needed to look into seriously, he added.
