KOTA KINABALU: The state Public Works Department (PWD) is doing it level best to address flooding problems affecting roads network in and around the state capital.
Its director Datuk Dr John Anthony said upgrading works would be carried out at stretches that were frequently flooded, including in Penampang which saw its worst flooding since 1999 during the downpour two weeks ago that also left seven other districts inundated.
“We took our lesson and identified several roads in the affected areas where certain upgrading is needed. Some of these roads will be elevated so that they won’t be flooded the next time we have heavy rain. Hopefully we would have the allocation needed next year,” he said this when met after the signing of Letter of Intent between the department, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and Forever Sabah for a collaborative programme to improve the sewage system in the state.
Anthony said although the flooding problems were often caused by clogged drainage and therefore, would fall under the jurisdiction of the Irrigation and Drainage Department, PWD had done something as the flood also affected the roads.
“When flood happens, the road are usually damaged or at least become unusable throughout; so it becomes our problem,” he said, adding that among the frequently flooded roads identified for upgrading included those in Kibabaig, Penampang.
On a related development, he said the department was still repairing roads in Moyog, Tambunan, Minintod and Jalan Shantung which were severed by landslides.