By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Jan 16: As floodwaters cut off roads and forced boats to become the only lifeline into remote longhouses in Ulu Sebauh, aid arrived not in the form of statements but in sacks of rice, trays of eggs, and volunteers wading through rising water.
Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is also Bintulu Member of Parliament and Dudong assemblyman, said that continuous rainfall over the past few days has caused flooding in several parts of Sarawak, including Bintulu and Sebauh.
“When water levels rose, assistance was immediately mobilised. As conditions gradually improved, teams continued going down to the field and into communities to listen, understand, and see what residents still needed,” he said in a Facebook video posted on Jan 14 documenting the flood response.
He urged residents to remain vigilant, monitor weather developments, and prioritise safety, adding that the public was encouraged to contact relevant authorities or his team should emergencies arise, so that aid could be delivered without delay.
The video showing the team travelling by road and boat, navigating flooded areas and distributing supplies drew widespread responses online, with many netizens praising the hands-on approach.
One commenter wrote: “Not only by the people, for the people, but with the people as well. Respect.” Another said: “Good job YB. We support you and like what you are doing to help people.”
Others used the comments section to highlight local concerns, particularly in Sebauh, where some residents said flood conditions remained worrying and hoped authorities would continue to monitor the situation closely.
Several netizens also expressed appreciation after drainage and mitigation works helped prevent flooding in certain areas despite days of heavy rain.
Tiong said in another Facebook post that, as several areas in Bintulu have recently been affected by flooding, he has arranged for two boats from Sibu to provide support, deliver supplies, access affected areas, visit residents, and monitor the latest developments to ensure that relief efforts can be carried out more smoothly.
His team later visited three longhouses in Ulu Sebauh, Rh Saging, Rh Dato Raymond and Rh Singer, to assess conditions on the ground and maintain direct communication with residents.
“Whatever changes occur, my team and I will always prioritise the safety and needs of the people, and remain ready to act,” he said.
In Sebauh, assistance was delivered to Rh Saging in Ulu Sebauh, where flooded routes meant supplies had to be transported by boat to ensure they reached affected households.
A total of 45 sets of relief supplies were distributed, including daily necessities such as rice, eggs, cooking oil, instant noodles, and ready-to-eat food to ease the immediate burden on flood victims.
The team also visited Rh Sta Anak Liban in Ulu Sebauh, distributing 37 sets of essential items. Tiong noted that rain was still falling during the visit, river currents remained slightly strong, but water levels showed signs of receding.
He reiterated his call for residents to stay alert, adding that monitoring of rainfall and river levels around Bintulu would continue as flood conditions evolve.
— DayakDaily
