MIRI – Patience is wearing thin for the people of Sarawak when it comes to the government dealing with flood woes in the state.
Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party president Lina Soo in her social media posts said each year, the state government will give the same excuse in regard to the recurring flood problem.
“Every time there is a major flood, state leaders will blame it on natural causes that are beyond their control.
“Year after year, they promise to implement flood mitigation projects drawn up by the state to alleviate the problem, but we have yet to see any major improvement work being done.
“All it takes is torrential rain for a few hours and we have a massive flood disrupting our lives.
“The assemblymen receive annual government grants of between RM5 million and RM10 million each. Why do they not use their funds to deepen and widen the drainage systems?
“What have they been doing with their annual allocations?”
Soo was commenting on the floods last week, which overwhelmed housing estates and commercial centres throughout the districts and sub-districts of Kuching, Batu Kawa, Lundu, Samarahan, Serian, Matang, Muara Tuang and Petra Jaya.
Yesterday, state Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said the urban planning system in Sarawak could not cope with major floods.
Dr Sim, who has been slammed for not doing enough, said the urban development system in the state needs to be renewed, especially its drainage system.
At the peak of the floods last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, almost a thousand residents were evacuated from dozens of inundated villages and taken to 12 community halls.
The floods have so far subsided as of yesterday evening. – The Vibes, February 22, 2021
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