More federal funding needed to counter Miri flash floods

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Chin (second left) and others inspect a flash flood-prone section of the link road between Tudan Phase 5 and Lutong Baru Light Industrial Estate. It is learnt that this stretch was impassable to vehicles a few days ago due to flash flood.

MIRI: This city needs more government allocations to enhance and reinforce its drainage as part of the long-term measures to prevent flash floods.

According to Eric Chin, the special assistant to Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, those living in low-lying areas across the Senadin constituency – where Lee is the assemblyman – have been experiencing flash floods, which get more frequent during the rainy season.

“Over the past several days, flash floods have hit the link road between Tudan Phase 5 and Lutong Baru Light Industrial Estate, and also Desa Senadin Light Industrial Estate.

“In this regard, Miri city would definitely need more funds from the federal government, so that Miri City Council (MCC) and the DID (Drainage and Irrigation Department) could build storm drains and run regular maintenance works,” Chin told reporters during an inspection on two flash flood-prone areas here yesterday.

He was accompanied by the divisional DID engineer Iwan Halmi, local Chinese community leaders Kapitan Ngieng Hok Diing and Kapitan Chong Ah Muk, and several Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) members from the Senadin branch.

Chin, who is also SUPP Senadin publicity chief, expressed his hope for MCC and DID to look into immediate remedial measures to address the problem, including identifying blockage in drains and nearby streams.

“At the same time, these agencies should also bid for more funds from the federal government.”

In his remarks, Iwan said he would bring the matter to the attention of his superiors, disclosing that for now the state DID has no funds to perform maintenance works.