Adenan (left) assessing the water level at Kuching Barrage yesterday. Morshidi is second from left and Jabu centre.
CM says flood situation still quite normal, advises people not to create rumours and false reports
KUCHING: Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has assured the people that the flood situation here is under control despite continual downpour in the past few days.
Speaking to reporters after visiting the Kuching Barrage, which controls the inflow and outflow of water from the Sarawak River, the Chief Minister said there was no cause for the people to panic as “things are (still) quite normal”.
“The situation is safe and under control. There is no need to panic. I would advise people not to create rumours and false reports,” he said in response to rumours in the social media that certain areas in Kuching, such as the Old Courthouse and around Grand Margherita Hotel, were flooded.
Accompanying him were his deputy Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani.
Adenan said certain parts of Marudi and Padawan were flooded, but the situation was not serious enough to warrant evacuation.
“We will keep monitoring the situation all the time for any eventuality. Kuching is safe. There is some flooding, but it is not as bad as the flooding in Kelantan and Terengganu.”
The state government, he assured, was also well prepared for any eventuality that might arise during the king tide, from today till Jan 26, with the highest expected to be 6.3 metres on Jan 22 and 23.
Stressing that the most important thing now was the safety of the people, he said the state Disaster Relief Committee, chaired by Jabu, was monitoring the situation closely.
Meanwhile, Jabu said the weather condition in the state was generally not serious.
He said what was happening was actually “isolated flash floods and not due to king tide”.
He said flash-flood prone areas were those towards coastal areas from Tanjung Manis to Mukah, adding “the forecast is that those clouds bearing rain is moving towards the sea.
“Whatever happens, we have got enough contingency preparations, including evacuation centres, at various districts, sub-districts and divisional level to cater for all needs. We have forward-base stations to keep food, so there is no cause for concern.”
Jabu assured that the management of Kuching Barrage was based on scientific and technical facts, and various telemetric stations were providing information to the barrage.
“We will be able to know things like the volume of rainfall and duration for the water to reach the barrage from the source.”