MIRI – Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing waded through floodwaters in Sibu today to see for himself the devastation brought upon by the recent spell of heavy downpour in the district.
The Dudong assemblyman and Progressive Democratic Party president walked through the inundated trunk roads and inspected flooded waterways.
He called on officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Drainage and Irrigation Department to immediately identify factors behind the floods that have plagued Sibu residents for decades.
Tiong also travelled by boat to venture into tributaries that had overflowed following heavy rain.
He later told reporters that the floods had affected three constituencies: Dudong, Nangka and Bukit Assek.
“Half a day of rain resulted in floods of up to 1m deep, which can be seen on the roads and in low-lying areas.
“This caused a lot of inconvenience to the population.
“Residents in these three districts are affected, (as well as infrastructure) especially villages and schools.
“This has disrupted the schooling session for students as well.
“We need an immediate solution – firstly, by deepening the drainage channels, as well as raising the height of the roads that are easily submerged.
“Get things done fast. I am liaising with PWD and local councils now,” he said.
Tiong said financial allocations will be sought from both the state government and the federal government.
The involvement of both state and federal ministries is crucial in mitigating flood woes in Sarawak, he said. – The Vibes, January 16, 2022
