Elevate flood prone sections of Ulu Niah road – Dr Rundi

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Dr Rundi (seventh right) handing over the government aid to the longhouse chiefs representing 774 flood victims from Ulu Niah and Ulu Suai.

Dr Rundi ( 2nd left) is briefed by a Welfare Department officer Lau Ngee Wei (right) on the aid distributed at Batu Niah community hall.

BATU NIAH: The flood-prone sections of the Ulu Niah road should be elevated to overcome the perennial problem of this lifeline being cut-off by rising flood water during rainy spells, while those staying in low-lying areas should seriously consider relocating.

Utilities Minister and Kemena state assemblyman Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said raising the road level to about two metres in these vulnerable sections of the road would be an answer to the prayers of longhouse folks who fret of being cut-off every rainy season.

He said this today after the handing over of flood relief assistance by the state Welfare Department to five longhouse chiefs representing 767 recipients from Ulu Niah at Batu Niah Community Hall, about 120 kilometres from Miri.

Miri Welfare Department reported that 1,534 victims were affected by the flood.

The affected longhouses were Rumah Changgai ak Dali, Rumah Belilie Ak Lium, Rumah  Sigan ak Inal and Rumah Sube ak Nat in Ulu Niah as well as Rumah Akai ak Anggat in Ulu Suai.

The victims were evacuated to the relief centre after water rose dangerously high and the access road was cut off.

Dr Rundi flew in to Miri and travelled by land to Batu Niah to hand over the aid to representatives of the recipients which included rice, cooking utensils and baby powder sourced in the town.

“I have called on the Public Works Department and district office to take this up as we want to resolve this problem from recurring year in, year out,” he said.

He said some low-lying longhouses had already relocated to higher ground to avoid perennial flooding but were still affected as their access road was cut-off due to high water level this season.

Dr Rundi said there are about 10 other longhouses in Suai and Niah that are facing flood as of today due to the rainy weather. He also advised the locals there to exercise care and evacuate if advised.

“Inform the Operations Room without delay if the water level is rising dangerously fast and do not wait until the last minute,” he said.

The Civil Defence Department has also been urged to help to send students in Ulu Suai.

He also urged the longhouse chiefs to liaise with the operations room on the medical needs of affected flood victims in their respective areas, besides requesting for help from the Medical Office to be sent there if they were cut-off by the flood.

Dr Rundi also said that he would take up flood mitigation needs in his constituency to the higher authorities for action to be taken to resolve the problem faced by the people.