Call on SMC to come up with solutions for flash flood woes in Kpg Usahajaya Baru
SIBU: Kampung Usahajaya Baru residents want Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to come up with solutions for the flash flood problems in the area.
Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who is also the Dudong assemblyman, said the villagers had poured out their frustrations and anger to him again when he visited Lorong 4 Sentosa Timur here during the recent Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
The Bintulu MP also pointed out that the village had been hit by flash floods for years, even before he was elected as Dudong assemblyman.
Tiong said although he had repeatedly demanded solutions for the problems, even before he was elected, he has been sorely disappointed at not seeing any action taken by the SMC.
“SMC should keep in mind that its responsibility is to serve the people, and to stop deceiving the people with the excuse that there’s no funding. It is the job of the council to ‘solve the problem’ of funding.
“If the funding is insufficient, then you must apply for it from the local government to solve the problem for the people, instead of using the same excuse for inaction and letting the local residents live in destitute every day,” he said in a statement.
Tiong added that the local residents were full of complaints and very frustrated, as the instant it rained, their village would be flooded, making them live a life of constant worry and fear.
“I would like to ask, this village is right on the roadside. Maintenance and improvement works can be carried out. At least we should cooperate with the Public Works Department (JKR) or the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to dig deep trenches to achieve the effect of dredging and draining floods.
“At the same time, increase the height of the road in order to reduce the flooding on the roads as an immediate solution.
“Why can’t SMC do anything for the people after several years while watching the people suffer from sleepless nights?”
Tiong also hoped that SMC could seriously deal with this problem and find solutions, instead of ‘receiving reports 100 times but giving 101 excuses’.
“Such attitude of ignorance is really bad and unacceptable,” he stressed.