By Zaki MS
KUALA KANGSAR: Safety concerns at the Victoria Bridge in Enggor have been raised several times to prevent any untoward incidents.
Perak Heritage Association secretary Nor Hisham Zulkiflee said the association had previously stressed that safety aspects must be given serious attention as they should never be compromised.
He said the bridge, which is more than 125 years old, appeared neglected without proper conservation work despite its significant heritage value.
“We previously called for the replacement of rotten wooden railway sleepers as they could pose a danger to visitors who step on them,” he said.
According to him, the association’s observations also found that local residents were concerned about the possibility of incidents involving visitors from outside the area.
More disappointingly, he said, the country’s oldest railway bridge continues to pose risks to visitors who come to the site.
Yesterday, a three-year-old boy, Abdul Rafee Abdul Halim, died after falling from a height of about five metres at the bridge.
The incident, which occurred at about 6.30pm, happened when the victim was on the bridge with his father.
Following the incident, the site, which is one of the local tourism and heritage attractions, was closed to the public.
Victoria Bridge is an asset owned by the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), while the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council (MPKK) assists with the maintenance of the surrounding area.
The bridge was constructed in 1897 and took three years to complete before it was officially opened on March 21, 1900.
It was named after Queen Victoria, and its opening ceremony was witnessed by the Sultan of Perak at the time, Sultan Idris Murshidul Azzam Shah.
