By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 16: Residents of Kampung Usahajaya Baru want the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to provide immediate solutions to the flash floods that have plagued them for years, says Dudong assemblyman Dato Seri Tiong King Sing.
Tiong, who also serves as the federal Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) Minister, revealed that during his visit to Lorong 4 Sentosa Timur in Sibu during the Aidilfitri celebrations, the residents expressed their frustrations and anger to him over the matter once again.
The minister highlighted the long-standing issue of flooding in the village, which has persisted even prior to his election as Dudong assemblyman.
He stated that he has been deeply disappointed that SMC has not taken any action despite repeated demands for solutions to the flash floods in Kampung Usahajaya Baru prior to his election.
“SMC should keep in mind that its responsibility is to serve the people, and to stop deceiving the people with the excuse that there is no funding. It is the job of the council to ‘solve the problem’ of funding.
“If the funding is insufficient, then you must apply for funding from the local government to solve the problem for the people, instead of using the same excuse for inaction and letting the local residents live in destitution every day,” he said in a statement.
Tiong also said that the local residents were full of complaints and frustration because whenever it rained, their village flooded, forcing them to live in constant worry and fear.
“I would like to ask, this village is right on the roadside. Maintenance and improvement works can be carried out. At least we should cooperate with the Public Works Department (JKR) or the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to dig deep trenches to achieve the effect of dredging and draining floods.
“At the same time, increase the height of the road in order to reduce the flooding on the roads as an immediate solution.
“Why can’t SMC do anything for the people after several years while watching the people suffer from sleepless nights?”
He also expressed hope that SMC would take the issue seriously and find solutions, rather than “receiving reports 100 times but giving 101 excuses”.
“The attitude of ignoring and ignorance is really bad and unacceptable,” Tiong added. — DayakDaily
