SIBU: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has directed the relevant authorities to ensure that there would be minimal inconvenience to members of the public when Sibu Flood Mitigation Project Phase II commences.
“For the next phase, I have directed the Sarawak Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), consultants and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to work out measures to ensure minimum inconvenience to the people,” its Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah told reporters after a briefing on the Sibu Flood Mitigation project at the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) office here yesterday.
He explained that it was not possible to remove the inconveniences altogether, given there would be construction works going on.
“As in any projects carried out in the country, there will bound to be some inconvenience caused.”
He was asked to respond to DAP’s call to initiate a signature campaign to protest against what they alleged as the slow pace of construction of Sibu Flood Mitigation Project Phase I at Upper Lanang Road.
Sibu MP Special Adviser Oscar Ling was reported to have said the signatures collected would later be forwarded to Sibu DID chief Ting Sing Kong.
To this, Uggah added: “That is why I was expressing my gratitude to the people of Sibu. The majority of them have been patient towards the inconvenience created by the project.
“They (DAP) represents the minority. To me they are just trying to create an issue out of nothing because there is no issue at all. Well, they can say anything.”
Asked on DAP’s allegation that there had been a delay in the project, he responded: “There were problems initially, but everything is progressing very well now.”
Earlier, at the press conference, Uggah revealed that the Sg Bidut project had been progressing well, adding that 80 per cent had been completed.
The scope of work, he went on to say, included improvement of internal drainage system and the construction of tidal control gates.
“The raising of the main road as a flood levee has also been completed with the assistance of JKR Sibu,” he disclosed, adding that RM3 million had been allocated for the upgrading works at Sg Bidut.
He acknowledged that Sg Bidut was a very important area, being the main source of vegetables.
The Minister added that from past experiences, when the place was flooded, the harvest of greens was affected, causing prices to soar.
Uggah, however, noted since improvement works were implemented, it had helped relieved flood problems there.
He expressed confidence that when the project was completed it would help relieve the 50 families of vegetables farmers there of floods.
On the dredging of bottlenecks at Pulau Kerto, costing RM9.7 million, he disclosed that the contract for the dredging works had been handed to the contractor.
“The project is scheduled for completion by Mar 26 this year. This will relieve part of the areas affected by siltation along Rajang River.”
He also revealed that the Loba Lembangan River and Ang Chui Kow River pump house stations project cost RM38 million.
He pointed out that the BN government was committed in continuing the project and in helping the people solve their flooding woes.
Towards this end, he urged the local populace to continue to rally behind the BN government and to deliver back the Sibu parliamentary seat to BN in the coming general election.
Earlier, in responding to a question posed by SMC deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng, Uggah said the contractors had given assurance that Lanang Road would be completely passable before Chinese New Year.
“If the rain continues, part of the road might not be tar-sealed, but it will be completely passable to traffic by Chinese New Year.”