KOTA KINABALU – Three people were killed and two went missing after a thunderstorm struck Kota Kinabalu and Penampang last night, causing flash floods and landslides in many areas.
Sixty-eight people had to be put up at the evacuation centres in Penampang and in Putatan last night. Some 30 villages were affected by the disaster on the eve of Malaysia Day.
A 5-year-old girl and her 25-year-old mother were killed on the spot in a landslide at the construction workers’ quarters in Forest Hill, in Penampang’s Bundusan area.
Three others were saved but one of them sustained heavy injuries from the incident. The injured victim later died at about 8pm.
Two people went missing after Sg Sugud overflowed and swept them away in Sugud, Penampang, one of the areas worst hit by the floods.
The Fire and Rescue Department has not revealed the identities of the two.
The department said it had received 121 calls at its 10 stations, including at its main call centre last night.
Evacuations are still being carried out by the Civil Defence Force and the Fire and Rescue Department in badly hit areas. At the time of press, the number of victims has not been determined.
There has been no word over actions taken by the state Public Works Ministry over the landslides and damaged infrastructure, or by the state Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry over the drainage and irrigation issues.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is expected to be in Sabah for the Malaysia Day ceremony scheduled around 8pm tonight.
But netizens have taken to social media with their resentment over this latest tragedy.
Pritchard Gumbaris, political secretary to Penampang MP Darell Leiking, said: “Yesterday we were hit by probably the worst flood since 1998. Why didn’t the federal government take care of us Sabahans and provide the necessary financial allocations to build proper infrastructures, especially flood prevention projects like water gates?
“Why didn’t the federal government ensure all the Pan Borneo projects build their proper drainage before proceeding with construction of roads?”
He said that Sabah became part of Malaysia in 1963 and was promised development and progress, but sadly “a disaster” had caused him to wonder why the situation has not changed since.
Former senator Adrian Lasimbang who had his home flooded yesterday, said: “Selamat Hari Malaysia...the struggle still goes on. Let us battle the bad mud which has spoiled the holiday.”
Former Moyog assemblyman Jennifer Lasimbang also posted a photo of her house still inundated by floodwaters.
At 11.05am, many parts of Penampang and Putatan remained flooded.
This is the second time this month the Sabah west coast has been lashed with heavy rainfall.
The first disaster on September 3 claimed two lives. – The Vibes, September 16, 2021
