By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, May 30: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has rejected claims that drainage issues in the Stampin Resettlement Scheme have been neglected for more than 30 years, saying substantial upgrading works have been carried out over the years and a RM350 million flood mitigation project is already moving into the implementation stage.
Responding to recent remarks by Michael Kong, Yap said while no one disputes that drainage and flooding problems have long affected certain parts of the Stampin Resettlement Scheme, public statements should be based on facts rather than political rhetoric.
“Facts must prevail over political rhetoric. The people of the Stampin Resettlement Scheme deserve facts, not political narratives.
“They deserve solutions, not selective political amnesia,” he said in a statement today.
Yap questioned criticisms from Kong, noting that the latter serves as special assistant to Chong Chieng Jen, who represented Kota Sentosa for three consecutive terms from 2006 to 2021 and is currently the Member of Parliament for Stampin.
“If the drainage issues have indeed persisted for more than 30 years as claimed, then the public is entitled to ask what concrete and lasting solutions were delivered during the many years when Democratic Action Party (DAP) represented both Kota Sentosa and Stampin,” he said.
Yap stressed that efforts to improve drainage in the area have been ongoing for years. He said that in 2018, following numerous complaints from residents, he raised the matter with the relevant authorities and secured drainage upgrading works worth approximately RM2.5 million.
The project, carried out by Kuching South City Council (MBKS), covered several locations within the Stampin Resettlement Scheme, including Lorong 7, 9, 11, 37, 37A and 37B.
He added that he has continued to conduct regular site visits, engage with residents and work closely with the relevant agencies to identify and resolve drainage-related issues.
More importantly, Yap said the Sarawak government has approved a comprehensive flood mitigation project for the Stampin Resettlement Scheme with an estimated cost of RM350 million.
The project is intended to provide a long-term solution to recurring flooding and drainage problems affecting approximately 1,503 households and more than 9,000 residents.
According to Yap, he has attended multiple stakeholder meetings organised by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) over the past two years, conducted site inspections with DID officers, consultants and community leaders, and consistently pushed for the project’s implementation.
He further revealed that the project has already entered the implementation phase, with DID calling for tenders for Phase 1 of the Stampin Flood Mitigation Project on May 21.
“The tender is scheduled to close on June 24. Following the tender closing date, the Department will require approximately one month to carry out the tender evaluation process before the award of contract.
“Based on the current schedule, physical works are expected to commence by the end of August 2026,” he said.
Yap also disclosed that utility relocation works involving Sarawak Energy and telecommunications infrastructure are currently being coordinated as part of the preparatory works ahead of the main construction phase.
He said it was inaccurate to suggest that nothing had been done for more than three decades, arguing that such claims overlooked years of planning, engineering studies, upgrading works and financial commitments undertaken by the relevant authorities.
Yap also pointed out that drainage and irrigation fall under the Concurrent List of the Federal Constitution, requiring coordination among multiple agencies and levels of government.
“Complex flood mitigation projects involving hundreds of millions of ringgit cannot be implemented overnight. They require detailed technical studies, land acquisition considerations where necessary, utility relocations, environmental assessments and proper engineering design,” he said.
He reiterated his commitment to monitoring the implementation of the flood mitigation project and working with DID, MBKS, utility providers and other stakeholders to ensure its smooth delivery for the benefit of residents.
Yesterday, Kong claimed that residents of the Stampin Resettlement Scheme had been living without a proper drainage system for more than 30 years and attributed the situation to neglect by the authorities and the State government. He called for urgent action to address recurring flooding and drainage issues affecting the area. — DayakDaily
