Off Roaders Tear Up Pos Bihai Village Route Distraught Orang Asli Call For A Stop

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Several four-wheel drive vehicles seen at Pos Bihai. - NSTP/ Paya Linda YahyaGUA MUSANG: Nearly 1,000 residents of Pos Bihai are hoping that off-road four-wheel drive (4x4) activities can be halted, especially during the rainy season, as they have severely damaged the only road connecting to their village.
Residents claim that the collective off-road activities have already caused significant damage to their village's main road, making it difficult for them to go out and buy essential supplies.
Apek Asud, 39, a resident of Pos Bihai, said that the road in question is currently undergoing repairs and upgrades, but due to the actions of off-road enthusiasts, it has deteriorated once again.
A villager points at the damage caused by the four-wheel drive vehicles at Pos Bihai. - NSTP/ Paya Linda Yahya
The situation worsens when rainy days cause further severe damage to the road, rendering it impassable for the residents to travel to the town.
"This situation is a cause for concern for us residents here, especially with the rainy season approaching. It will be even more challenging for us to leave as the road is damaged," Apek said during an interview in the area.
Apek said that the Orang Asli residents in this area rely solely on motorcycles for transportation in and out of the village to get their essential food supplies.
"When the road is severely damaged, we sometimes have to spend the night in the forest to travel to and from our village," he added.
Apek acknowledged that the off-road 4x4 enthusiasts have occasionally provided assistance to the village residents, but it doesn't justify the risk they face due to the severely damaged road and the danger of spending nights in the forest.

The road in Pos Bihai is currently undergoing repairs. - NSTP/ Paya Linda Yahya
"I hope they have sympathy for us here. We also need to go out and buy food supplies, especially as the monsoon season is approaching soon. But with the current situation, it's difficult for us to come and go, compounded by the issue of roaming tigers in the village," he said.
Alang Segan, the village headman of Tendrik, Pos Bihai, hopes that there will be no more 4x4 activities in the village, which also serves as the main route to Pos Belatim and Pos Balar.
"If there is a genuine need, they can enter, but there is no need for 30 to 40 vehicles to enter simultaneously because it will damage the road," he emphasised.
"I hope this activity can be halted or postponed temporarily until our road issues are resolved. We also want to use a comfortable road for transportation. During the dry season, when the road is not damaged, it only takes about an hour to reach Gua Musang town by motorcycle," he added. - NST

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