Kota Kinabalu: The State Government is urged to construct a new road in Kampung Kayai, Membakut, to ensure the safety of the villagers.
Parti Warisan Kimanis Deputy Division Chief, Tailin Mainan, who made the call, said, the existing road leading to the village can only be accessed by four-wheel-drive vehicles, and its location right along the riverbank poses a significant danger to villagers.
“During Kimanis division’s mission to assist villagers trapped by the flood on February 18, we were informed by the residents that the river overflowed easily especially during continuous heavy rain.
“This is because the river has become shallow and needs to be deepened and widened to prevent overflow into farms and residential areas,” he said in a statement.
The flooding incident in Kimanis last week saw 13 families from the village being rescued and relocated to the Temporary Relief Centre (PPS).
“I was also informed that the villagers and road users have repeatedly brought up to the relevant authorities regarding the need for a new road, but to this day, no action has been taken,” he said.
Tailin also called on the State Government to clarify to the people of Kimanis regarding the status of the flood mitigation project in the district, particularly concerning the proposal to deepen and widen Sungai Membakut.
“In the past five years, no work or activity has been carried out to deepen or widen Sungai Membakut.
“The Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who is responsible for the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), has never organised any dialogue session or discussion with community leaders here regarding this flood mitigation proposal.
“This is in stark contrast to the WarisanPlus administration from 2018 to 2020, during which this proposal (to deepen and widen Sungai Membakut) was discussed by Membakut community leaders together with Junz Wong, who was the Agriculture Minister at the time.
“Had there not been a change of government back then, the proposal to deepen and widen Sungai Membakut would have undoubtedly been completed this year, thereby reducing the impact of flooding in Membakut,” he said.
