KOTA KINABALU: The member of parliament for Penampang, Darell Leiking, has called on the State Barisan Nasional Cabinet members to make serious effort in overcoming the flash and perennial flooding at the worst-affected districts in Sabah, particularly in his constituency.
“We have seen statements after statements issued by top government officials and State BN leaders highlighting the need for millions of ringgit to implement flood mitigation projects in the district. So this clearly shows that there are solutions for the flash flood menace in Penampang,” he said in a statement yesterday after visiting several of the worst affected places in Penampang during the peak of the flooding.
Leiking also called on the State Government to consider the pleas by the villagers in the worst affected areas in Penampang to install sirens to enable them to prepare earlier and to work with the Village Development and Security Committees (JKKKs) to solve the villagers’ predicaments.
“The water rose so fast that most villagers had no time at all to carry their electrical appliances and furniture to safer places. Had there been siren, at least they would have a few minutes to scramble,” he explained.
He also urged the government to provide boats to the JKKKs of the flood-prone areas to enable them to transfer stranded villagers safely and also to instruct the Fire and Rescue Service Department to assist the schools and villagers in Penampang in cleaning mud-covered floors as the department has powerful water hydrants for that purpose,” he added.