Rumah Gasah Tedong flood victims cry foul over relief distribution

Rumah Gasah Tedong in Sungai Buri Bakong hit by flooding.

By Jaythaleela K

MIRI, Dec 13: The residents of Rumah Gasah Tedong at Sungai Buri Bakong here claimed that it was the only longhouse which has yet to receive flood relief supplies despite being hit by flooding a few days ago.

The 10-door longhouse was home to 34 members.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Marudi secretary Sawing Kedit has imputed that the longhouse was left out from the flood aid distribution because it was not a strong supporter of a ‘certain elected representative’.

“The distribution (of food relief aid) to flood affected areas in Bakong was carried out on Tuesday (Dec 10), but Rumah Gasah was excluded during the process,” he alleged in a press conference today.

Sawing (second right) together with Roland (seated centre), Philip (third left) and others during a press conference.

He informed that three other longhouses nearby namely Rumah Nora, Rumah Ajan and Rumah Peter have received the flood relief supplies distributed by the relevant authorities.

“Please don’t politicise the issue, we are all entitled to receive flood relief aid,” he pointed out.

PKR Baram chairman Roland Engan and its vice chairman Philip Jau were present.

Roland urged the relevant authorities to distribute the flood relief aid fairly to the flood victims regardless of their political backgrounds.

“In Baram, there are about 35 longhouses scattered around the area… and these are flood-prone areas,” he emphasised.

He also suggested that the federal government set up a relief centre in Marudi to ensure flood relief supplies and other assistance dispatched were able to reach those in the remote areas in Baram.

“Currently, we only have one (relief centre) in Miri,” he added.— DayakDaily