Floods due to work half done
Published on: Saturday, June 15, 2019
By: Larry Ralon
Kota Kinabalu: Penampang MP Datuk Darell Leiking blamed the recurring flash flood problem in Penampang and other parts of Sabah to flood mitigation projects under the previous government being half done. “Yesterday, Penampang and Papar faced yet another flash flood. My house was also affected. I had to take off my jacket and do clean-up until about 3am.
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“I had always complained about this when I was an Opposition MP. Now I am in the government, I have found out that the previous government had actually already approved the flood mitigation project in Penampang as well as Sabah.
“But I don’t know how they spent the money. Because when we go to ground and check, something is done but it was done halfway,” said the International Trade and Industry Minister.
He was asked to comment on Thursday’s flash flood at a press conference with China’s Industry and Information Technology Minister, Miao Wei, in conjunction with the Malaysia-China Smart Manufacturing Roundtable held at Marriott Hotel, Friday.
“We would also want to learn from China how they discipline people who abused money. How they discipline people who are corrupted. And how they do the right things.
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“In Sabah, we want disciplined people, disciplined contractors and we will go after those who have been entrusted to do the work but did not. So many people are suffering because of this, the failure to complete the flood mitigation projects approved by the previous government.
“This will be one of the many things we want to work with them. I will ask Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Federal Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister) and Datuk Junz Wong (State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister) who are both in charge of our irrigation and drainage to maybe learn from their China counterparts on how they resolve such a problem,” said Darell.
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He said Thursday’s flash flood also indirectly affected many whose houses were not affected by the flood but could not go home because the roads were flooded.
“Some of them even had to wait up until 3am the following morning until the water subsided and could drive through the roads to go home,” said Darell. He advised people to be careful when building a house on their private land particularly if it is close to hill slope to prevent any landslide in future.
Meanwhile, Moyog Assemblywoman, Jenifer Lasimbang, said Sabah is still waiting for funds from the Federal Government for the implementation of flood mitigation projects in the state.
She said in Penampang among the badly affected areas were Sugud, Limbanak dan Nambazan.
She said many need help in cleaning their houses. She is striving to get help from volunteers to provide equipment and assistance for the purpose. Jenifer also said its time to have policy on hill cutting and earth moving to prevent landslides.
She said the landslides happened due to heavy rainfall with poor mitigation system which reduced the earth strength.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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