Pitas schools closed, families evacuated
Published on: Thursday, January 05, 2017
Pitas: Floods caused by heavy rain overnight have struck 10 villages in northern Sabah, according to the Sabah Civil Defence Force. Its Director Col Muliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin named the villages as Kampung Bilangau Besar, Kampung Rukom Ulu, Kampung Sinasak Batu, Kampung Sibaung, Kampung Kusilad, Kampung Pandan Mendamai, Kampung Salimpodon Darat, Kampung Pinggan-Pinggan, Kampung Indah and Kampung Dandun. He also said the levels of two rivers near the villages – Sungai Kebatasan and Sungai Bengkoka – had risen to or above the danger point Wednesday morning.
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"Sungai Kebatasan measured 6.15 metres, above the danger point of six metres, while Sungai Bengkoka had swollen to the danger level of four metres. "The levels are rising as it has been raining heavily since 10pm," he said in a statement. Muliadi said a relief centre had been opened at Sekolah Kebangsaan Rukom but the number of evacuees could not be ascertained as yet as the registration process was still going on. He also said six major roads in the area were only passable to heavy vehicles and four-wheel-drive vehicles.Muliadi said the Civil Defence Force and other agencies were engaged in rescue work in the affected kampungs and other flood-prone villages, and were also keeping watch to ensure the safety of the villagers and road users.
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Twenty-seven families in Kampung Rukom Ulu, here, were evacuated.Col. Muliadi said the victims comprising 25 men, 27 women and 83 children were moved to Sekolah Kebangsaan Rukom about 12.45pm on Wednesday.
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Meanwhile, seven primary schools in Pitas were closed Wednesday due to the floods. Six of the schools were closed because their access roads were inundated while one was used as a relief centre for flood victims.State Education Department Director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said the schools involved were Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pandan Mandamai, SK Sosop, SK Pinggan-Pinggan, SK Mandurian, SK Pinapak, SK Nibang and SK Rukom with a total of 1,203 pupils and 131 teachers.She said school heads and principals could temporarily close their schools due to floods by informing about it to the department.Meanwhile, the Government has failed its duty to protect the people from floods despite making grand announcements of allocations for a nationwide flood mitigation plan said Sabah PKR Acting Chairperson, Christina Liew.She said it is a pathetic situation with no light at the end of the tunnel while the people remain victims of perennial floods. "The latest to be hit in view of the monsoon season is Pitas after Penampang and Kota Belud, among other vulnerable districts. "This phenomenon did not happen only yesterday but has been a nightmare for residents for decades. The Government's slogan of 'People First, Performance Now' is a political gimmick. Enough of talk, time to do something concrete for the people," she said.Liew, who is also Api Api Assemblywoman, was commenting on reports that Pitas had been cut off as roads were submerged due to heavy rain since Tuesday night. It was reported that 10 villages were adversely affected. "If a flood mitigation programme had been put in place, I am sure the district would not be reduced to such a distressing state," she pointed out.She said the Government should have a contingency plan, even in the absence of a mitigation programme, instead of leaving the rakyat in the lurch."Governments have come and gone since Sabah achieved independence in 1963, making a multitude of election promises, but the flood scourge appears to be a permanent feature, among other grouses," Liew lamented. In October last year, when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak unveiled the 2017 Budget, he said a total of 69 Flood Mitigation Plans will be continued nationwide with an allocation of RM495 million.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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