THERE is an urgent need for action to address Sabah's recurring flood issues and protect vulnerable communities from future disasters, especially in Penampang, said Moyog Assemblyman Datuk Darell Leiking.
Debating the Supplementary Budget Bill, Darell delivered a scathing critique of the State Government’s handling of the June 30 flooding.
"When it comes to mitigating floods and reducing the impact of floods, this Government has failed,” he said.
He acknowledged that while natural disasters cannot be entirely prevented, their impact can be significantly mitigated with proper planning and resource allocation.
He described the flood as the best of all the worst, noting that it had destroyed nearly half of his own home.
“There was widespread devastation with many residents losing their houses, cars and irreplaceable personal belongings such as old photographs,” he said.
He called for a comprehensive study to assess the full extent of the damage, both direct and indirect.
He pointed out that in Kuala Lumpur, a similar study conducted after the 2022 floods revealed losses of RM2 billion.
He suggested that the losses in Penampang, Moyog and Kepayan could be even more significant when considering factors such as disrupted medical treatments, damaged schools and lost work days.
He raised serious questions about the role of ongoing infrastructure projects, particularly the Pan Borneo Highway, in exacerbating flood risks.
He cited visible evidence of deforestation and hill-cutting by contractors, questioning whether proper flood mitigation measures were in place.
He called for a review of these contracts and urged the government to hold contractors accountable for their impact on local communities.
He also expressed disappointment in the State Government's lack of immediate response to the flood, contrasting it with the swift action taken in Peninsular Malaysia during previous disasters.
He noted the lack of immediate aid announcements and the absence of large-scale deployments of military personnel to assist with cleanup efforts, despite the proximity of the Lok Kawi Camp.
He also questioned the allocation of supplementary budget funds, pointing out that only four areas (Tuaran, Ranau, Kota Kinabalu, and Inanam) received an additional RM85 million.
He called for transparency in how these funds are distributed and urged the government to allocate resources to help Penampang residents rebuild their lives.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive, long-term solution to the recurring flood problem.
He criticized the repetitive nature of flood-related expenditures in the public works department budget, suggesting that these funds could be better used for preventative measures.
Darell called for regular maintenance of drainage systems, citing the persistently high water levels in major drains even during dry periods.
He stressed the importance of being prepared for future floods, urging the government to deploy assets proactively and develop a more robust disaster response plan.
He called on the government to conduct a comprehensive damage assessment of the recent floods, review and hold accountable contractors involved in major infrastructure projects, allocate immediate aid and resources to affected areas, particularly Penampang, develop a long-term flood mitigation strategy, improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities and ensure regular maintenance of drainage system.
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