By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 19: The flooding problem will not be resolved if the riverbeds of Rajang, Igan, Seduan and Sibiew in Bintulu are not deepened.
Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) president Dato Sri Tiong King Sing stressed the urgent need for long-term structural solutions to recurring flood issues in Sarawak.
“The river siltation has become one of the main reasons floodwaters are unable to flow efficiently in affected areas.
“Decades of upstream logging activities have contributed to heavy sediment buildup, which has not been properly addressed, resulting in shallow rivers and worsening flood conditions,” he said when speaking at the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Convention 2026 held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
Tiong, who is also Dudong assemblyman and Bintulu MP, reiterated that temporary measures such as retention ponds and pumping stations are insufficient on their own, as they do not address the root cause of the problem.
“It is just a temporary measure. Where will the pumped water go if the rivers are already shallow and filled with silt?” he asked.
He stressed that only dredging and deepening riverbeds would provide a lasting solution to the flooding issue affecting many communities.
Sharing a powerful human perspective, Tiong recalled a grandmother’s emotional remark that she does not fear if her underwear goes missing at night, but fears waking up to find her children and grandchildren gone when floodwaters rise.
The statement, he said, reflects the deep anxiety faced by families living in flood-prone areas, particularly in regions that experience flooding multiple times a year, such as Dudong.
Tiong stressed that flood mitigation is not about political advantage but about responsibility and duty to protect lives, property, and livelihoods.
“Leadership is not about who is the loudest, but who is consistent in serving the people,” he added, urging continuous commitment to solving long-standing infrastructure challenges through both immediate and long-term planning. — DayakDaily
