KUCHING, Jan 15: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government should prioritise the flood mitigation project in Kuching by using State fund if it fails to convince the Perikatan Nasional government to give allocation for the project.
This is the view of Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chief Chong Chieng Jen who alleged that the flood mitigation channel to Batang Salak which was suggested as early as 1991 has yet to be materialised by GPS government, resulting in constant flooding in Kuching whenever the monthly king tides coincide with heavy downpours.
“The State Government should prioritise the construction of this flood mitigation channel as it is affecting hundreds of thousand of people in Kuching and the greater Kuching area.
“In total, the population of Kuching division is approximately 700,000 which is more than 25 per cent of the total population of Sarawak,” said Chong in a statement today.
The Stampin MP said GPS though has been “boasting” its king-maker status in the formation of this federal government, could not restored all allocations allegedly cut by the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
“Despite all these, should the GPS Government truly take the interest of the people in Kuching and also some parts of Samarahan at heart, the State Government is able to utilise state fund to carry out the construction of the flood mitigation project at Batang Salak itself.
“I call upon the State Government to put their words into action and utilise State fund for the flood mitigation project in Kuching,” said Chong who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
He said the mitigation project which was first proposed in 1991 is long overdue. Moreover, since then, due to climate change, there are now more frequent and heavier rainfalls in Kuching, making the need for the said flood mitigation channel project even more urgent.— DayakDaily
