Why Sabahans fated to suffer this way

Published on: Sunday, October 25, 2020

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The recent flood in Tenghilan.

I REFER to your report “Jeffrey Wants More Federal Funding” (DE 21.10.2020). The report said “Jeffery was satisfied that works are being done to alleviate the problem with a comprehensive plan worth RM3 billion already in place.”

Among the areas affected was Tenghilan town, about 55km from Kota Kinabalu, which was hit hard by the floods last week.

Let me tell you my experience in cleaning the drains in Tenghilan town.

In 2016, I was employed by a firm to supervise drain cleaning in many towns such as Tuaran, Tamparuli as well as Tenghilan.

Questions we need answers are:

i. Who got the contract to do the cleaning job?Answer: Some politician.

ii. Who actually did the cleaning? Answer: The firm (name known to DE).

iii. Why was the job not awarded to the contractor directly?

The cleaning work done by the firm, which was run by a bankrupt, was never done properly. I complained directly that there was mud under the drain covers and was told not to bother and to get rid of mud only where it is noticeable.

I later learned that politicians behind the project were pushing this contractor to hurry up as they needed money fast.

(Note: The insolvency department was informed about this contractor’s involvement in companies despite him being a bankrupt and not paying creditors who had sued him.

(The insolvency department also appears to be dragging its feet on this. Anyway, that is a story for another day.)

Questions I would like to ask Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan are:

1. What inspection work did he do? Just look at the flood and ask for allocation?

2. Why were the shophouses in Tenghilan allowed to make extension rooms over the drains behind the shophouses? The drains were all covered thus making it impossible to clean the drains by contractors employed.

3. Did the politicians who received the contracts to do the cleaning, report the matter about the illegal construction over the drains?

4. What had the local authorities done about the illegal extensions?

5. Why did DID close its eyes in all such matters?

If we continue giving out contracts to politicians who then sub them to the actual contractors the cost of cleaning drains and maintenance will continue to be high and the shoddy works done by contractor will continue.

It is the citizens who will continue suffering endlessly.

Fed Up