Penampang MP praised for His Development Contributions

6 November 2025

PENAMPANG: The long-awaited concrete bridge in Kampung Timpangoh is now nearing completion, with only a few final details remaining. While it is currently passable, residents are advised to refrain from crossing until the construction is completely finished.

Kampung Timpangoh is home to diligent farmers who cultivate and sell lemongrass, galangal, and rubber, as well as vegetable growers. These dedicated individuals have relied on a low-level crossing route to transport their bountiful produce across the river to meet eager buyers on the other side. Sometimes, buyers even visit their farms to purchase in bulk.

However, when they need to travel to town or visit the weekly market, their journey has often been fraught with difficulties. During heavy rains or floods, the makeshift crossing becomes treacherous, sometimes impassable, cutting off the farmers from their markets and disrupting their livelihoods.

Headman Monis Africa Gimbun explains that hope arrived through the efforts of Penampang Member of Parliament, Datuk Ewon Benedick, who recognised the challenges faced by these industrious farmers. In a significant development, the MP, also the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, facilitated the construction of a sturdy 90-metre concrete bridge. In 2024, he held a groundbreaking ceremony and officially launched the RM16.7 million project.

The project, which began in July 2024, was originally scheduled for completion in July 2026, but it is now nearing its conclusion and is expected to be fully completed by December. This is an extraordinary achievement, said Monis, who added that the new bridge brings a sense of security and reassurance to the entire community, especially during heavy rains and floods when crossing the river was once perilous.

With this vital infrastructure in place, the farmers of Kampung Timpangoh and other villages that benefits from the bridge such as Kampung Lutung can now confidently transport their lemongrass and galangal, enabling them to expand their businesses and support their families.

Beyond facilitating the movement of goods, the bridge symbolises progress, development, and the resilience of the community. It represents unity, bridging not just physical gaps, but also fostering stronger connections within the villages.

The bridge will stand as a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential of rural communities. It will empower the farmers of Kampung Timpangoh and Kampung Lutung with a reliable crossing, allowing them to thrive and contribute further to Babagon’s agricultural landscape.

“Kampung Timpangoh and Kampung Lutung, along with other villages benefiting from this bridge, will be forever grateful for the MP’s dedication to their well-being,” Monis added. “With its completion, our farmers will have the confidence to journey towards prosperity, knowing their hard work will no longer be hindered by the river’s ebb and flow.”

Monis also shared that there are additional needs to improve villagers’ lives, such as installing a gravity pipeline system to supply water to every household. Currently, the pipeline is only one inch in diameter, but with the RM20,000 in assistance from Ewon when he visited recently, they plan to upgrade to a two-inch pipe, which will significantly improve water supply efficiency. Monis further explained that a water source approximately 12 kilometres away could meet their needs.

“I am very grateful, as I believe many others are, to Datuk Ewon. We hope that he will continue to be our leader, as he has already done so much for us. I believe he will do even more in the future to support our community,” Monis expressed with optimism.