Gopeng: Residents of Kampung Orang Asli (KOA) Ulu Geruntum have urged for the immediate replacement of the two bridges linking their village that were destroyed by a water surge on June 19. Resident Wak Nanten a/p Bah Bulu, 67, said the incident, which occurred at about 4.30 pm, was the first of its kind he had experienced in more than six decades of living in the village.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wak Nanten, along with her younger sister, Cheket a/p Bah Bulu, 57, were cooking when their nephew warned that the river upstream had begun overflowing, prompting them to flee on their motorcycles. "At that moment, I could only pray to God and thought I was going to die. Fortunately, I managed to reach the lower part of the village as the strong current swept away large tree trunks," she recounted at the temporary relief centre (PPS) at Dewan Bandaran Gopeng.

Wak Nanten mentioned that her house, located about 20 metres from Sungai Ulu Geruntum, avoided major damage despite floodwaters inundating the compound. She explained that the water surge destroyed both the village's main bridge and suspension bridge, effectively cutting off access for residents.

Cheket noted that the villagers initially did not perceive the danger as the river level seemed normal despite the rain. "We have never seen anything like this before, but we are grateful that no lives were lost," she said, adding that while they had been informed of a temporary bridge, details on its construction timeline were still pending.

The incident on June 19 left more than 51 people from 16 families stranded after the village was isolated by the collapsed bridges. Meanwhile, Perak Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching stated that an application to build a temporary bridge had been submitted to the state government for urgent consideration. Ng, who is also the Teja assemblyman, indicated that the construction of the approximately 24-metre temporary bridge was anticipated to take at least two weeks post-approval, involving the collaboration of villagers, the Kampar District and Land Office, and the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA).

Ng further mentioned that affected residents would stay at the PPS until their homes and basic infrastructure had been fully restored.