Tiong: Bintulu river works must commence immediately to mitigate risk of flash floods

Tiong (second right) speaks to members of the flood rescue team in Bintulu.
Advertisement

by DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 30: The deepening and widening of Sungai Sibiew and Sungai Kemena must commence immediately to mitigate the risk of flash floods in Bintulu, Dato Seri Tiong King Sing says.

In a Facebook post today, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, and Bintulu MP pointed out that human factors, particularly inadequate infrastructure, have played a major role in exacerbating Sarawak’s devastating floods, and relevant agencies must take responsibility.

Advertisement

Specifically, he said, flaws in Bintulu’s drainage system and the long-overdue deepening and widening of Sungai Sibiew’s riverbed have contributed to the flood’s severity.

“While some attribute this catastrophic flood to natural causes, others point to inadequacies in infrastructure.

“We cannot ignore the possibility that human factors have exacerbated the severity of the flooding. Issues such as flaws in Bintulu’s drainage system have prevented Sungai Sibiew from effectively discharging excess water, causing a rapid surge in river levels.

“The strong currents have further complicated rescue operations, increasing risks for both victims and responders. The worst-affected areas are clearly those surrounding Sungai Sibiew, which is a direct consequence of the long-overdue deepening and widening of the riverbed.

“The riverbed project for Sungai Sibiew has remained a mere proposal for nearly five years, with no actual progress,” Tiong, who personally assessed the flood situation in Bintulu yesterday, said.

“This devastating flood should serve as an urgent warning – relevant agencies must take responsibility.

“I have repeatedly emphasised that the river must be deepened by at least three to five metres and widened to 100 metres to accommodate increasing rainfall due to climate change. Only by doing so can we prevent such disasters from recurring,” he added.

He also suggested that the riverbed of Sungai Kemena, which connects directly to the sea, must also be deepened to accommodate boats.

Tiong added that he would bring this up at upcoming meeting at the Resident’s Office on Feb 10, as well as propose halting the bridge’s construction connecting Taman Jason and Taman Kemena Sutera to prevent disruptions to the riverbed works.

Meanwhile, to address the immediate support needed by the people in Bintulu, Tiong said, the Fire and Rescue Departments in Sibu, Miri, Labuan, and Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) have been mobilised to assist in disaster relief efforts.

Two speedboats from the PDP’s Central Region Disaster Relief Task Force will also be deployed to support rescue operations.

He also expressed his gratitude towards the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) for promptly activating its 24-hour emergency response mechanism.

“Through close coordination with the Resident’s Office, the relevant authorities – including the Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysia Civil Defence Department, the military, and the police – have been swiftly mobilised to carry out rescue and relief efforts in affected areas.

“I extend my sincere appreciation to Sarawak Deputy Premier and SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, as well as all rescue personnel and relief teams,” he added.

For those in need of assistance, Tiong shared that they could contact him directly at 019-9565555, the P217 Bintulu Parliamentary Constituency Service Centre at 086-312979, or the Special Affairs Officer to the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Steven Kong Kai Seng at 012-8049663.

Alternatively, they may reach out via the following numbers: 086-332222, 086-318233, 086-339781, 014-8821243 (Kebajikan).

Residents are advised to minimise outdoor activities and prioritise safety to avoid accidents due to strong currents.

Locations of the Five Flood Relief Centres:
1. PPS Pusat Sukan BDA Kidurong
2. PPS Balai Raya Jepak
3. PPS Stadium Muhabah
4. PPS Dewan Suarah Bintulu
5. PPS Dewan SMK Assyakarin Sg Plan

All five relief centres are now fully operational, providing essential aid to those affected by the disaster.– DayakDaily

Advertisement