KOTA KINABALU: The floods in Tenom in the last two days show the need to rethink and rationalise the federal-Sabah administrative set-up.
“We cannot continue to allow the disparity in the treatment of Sabahans compared to the counterparts in the peninsula by the federal government and federal agencies,” said Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah chief, when he visited the Tenom flood areas.
He claimed the affected villagers complained that there was practically no effort made by the departments and relief agencies to render any assistance to them in Tenom.
“The Fire and Rescue Department was only put on standby while the floods inundated many villages and left many villagers stranded,” Jeffrey said.
“Even the state government failed to mobilize any relief effort with the District Office said to be put on alert only,” he claimed.
“Do they (the federal agencies) only act when casualties are involved?” has asked, while noting that a villager had used the trunk of a floating banana tree as assistance in the flood waters.
According to Jeffrey, the worst affected areas included Kg. Saga, Kg. Batu and Kg. Bantungan in Lagud Sebrang, several villages in Tenom Lama and Kg. Dumantalik, the village of the Umno assemblyman for Kemabong.
“Even though Tenom is an Umno constituency, the lack of relief and the treatment by the federal government through its agencies is totally unacceptable.
“One wonders what would be the response if the flooded area was not in Umno territory,” he said.
“If the weather situation does not improve, further rains later this month will inundate and flood more areas.”
Jeffrey said the state government should take immediate steps to activate a Natural Disaster and Relief Committee so that action can be taken to alleviate the flood situation.