This antics of palm oil companies has irked Bintulu Member of Parliament, Dato Seri Tiong King Sing.
He  said these companies should not encroach on gazetted land. Under the law, both sides of the coastal highway are reserved for the planting of flowers or shrubs to beautify the area.

“But these oil palm firms have apparently overdone it by planting oil palm trees instead on these gazetted areas. They should have planted the crop within the periphery of their land only,” he said.
Danger to road users 

Tiong noticed the companies had also discarded unwanted fresh fruit bunches on the roadside and in the drains.

“This is sheer outrageous as this will pose a danger to road users travelling along the highway. Besides, dumping the wastes in the drains will clog  them,” said Tiong after inspecting the affected sites yesterday.

He urged the Public Works Department to seriously view this matter and to take the necessary action to address the situation.

Meanwhile, Tiong also called on the PWD to make frequent inspections of  the Pan Borneo Highway and the coastal highway to ensure that the roads remained in tip-top condition at all times, especially during the rainy season.

He said potholes along these roads must be filled up or patched quickly to avoid any untoward road accidents.

Tiong also reminded contractors to regularly trim the grasses along the highway and coastal roads. Tall grasses at certain stretches had obstructed the visibility of drivers, he added.