TAWAU: The Sabah Department of Irrigation and Drainage is urged to speed up a comprehensive special action plan to address the flash flood crisis in Kg Tanjung Batu as a long-term solution.
“We hope the Department can make use of the recent additional budget approval under the special allocation by the State Government to take immediate action and carry out physical works along the Tanjung Batu River channel,” said Tanjung Batu Assemblyman Dr Andi Md Shamshureezal Mohd Sainal.
He said deepening and widening the Sungai Tanjung Batu channel was urgent given the flood disasters recurring frequently and worsening over time.
“The worsening water overflow was caused by a narrowing river channel, sedimentation and the presence of residential structures along the riverbanks,” he said, after visiting flood victims at the Tawau Sports Complex Temporary Evacuation Centre, Monday.
He said the problem was made worse by climate change and continuous heavy rain, which had made flood impacts far bigger, especially when combined with high tide conditions.
“Although this river widening and clearing project requires quite a high cost, firm and swift action from the Department is needed and we believe it cannot be allowed to be delayed any further.
“Natural disasters may be hard to avoid completely but their impact on residents must be minimised, which is why we will also be holding another special meeting on the flood mitigation project plan soon,” he said.
He said the meeting would focus on reassessing the progress of short, medium and long term action plans first drawn up with the Department on Jan 12 following the flash flood that hit Tanjung Batu at the time.
The Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said the review was critical as the flood issue around Sungai Tanjung Batu had reached an urgent stage and could not be delayed any longer after recording a sharp rise in the number of affected victims.
“If the previous incident only affected around 30 families, this time saw 102 families with an estimated 303 to 360 victims involved, making it the biggest disaster we have faced in seven months,” he said.
On the welfare of the victims, he said all heads of households, most of whom live near Sungai Tanjung Batu, are scheduled to receive financial aid worth RM1,000 per family in addition to initial food basket contributions from the Chief Minister’s Office.
Although all victims have been allowed to return to their respective homes following a risk assessment, residents especially those living along the riverbanks are asked to remain alert given the unpredictable weather and the risk of another flood overflow.
Dr Shamshureezal also gave an assurance that the Tanjung Batu Community Development Leader Unit office and security agencies remain on 24 hour standby to face any possibility.
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