More than RM70,000 required for short-term solution to flood problem

KUCHING: A budget allocation of more than RM70,000 is needed for an urgent short-term solution to flood problems in Tupong and Samariang state constituencies.

Works Minister and Petra Jaya MP Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof told reporters at a press conference yesterday that the flash floods are the main challenges for him in his parliamentary constituency of Petra Jaya.

Due to rapid development in his area, the existing drainage system is no longer able to accommodate large volume of water especially during high tide.

“We have identified several areas where flash floods occur frequently such as Pinang Jawa, Kampung Gita, Taman Sejoli, Masja, Astana Lot, Sungai Bedil, Samariang Batu, Samariang Lama, Samariang Pinggir, Kampung Wawasan and other areas in my parliamentary area. We need to do flood mitigation in some of these areas,” he added.

He said there were drainage system improvement using the Rural Transformation Project ( RTP) allocation in his area even though the allocation of RTPs is limited. Therefore a bigger project calls for provision from both the state and federal governments.

Fadillah was attending a meeting cum briefing on the planning of the flood mitigation project with leaders of the two state constituencies at Petra Jaya Parliamentary Service Centre here.

Present were Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Senator Dr Zaiedi Suhaili and representatives from N7 Samariang constituency, Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Kuching North City Commission ( DBKU) and Public Works Department (JKR).