Call to expedite Penampang flood mitigation work
KAPAYAN: Kapayan assemblyman Dr Edwin Bosi has called on the people, especially in Penampang, to be extra careful during this wet session.
“I would also like to advise them to stock up on food, drinking water and to be ready for possible power failure. The weather forecast for the next few days is gloomy,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Bosi said the past days of heavy persistent rain has caused a lot of collateral damage, especially in Penampang.
“The flooding in many areas has not only cut off road access but also caused damages to vehicles, shops, houses and appliances.
“The swollen monsoon drain at Kg Kodudungan has caused the road to collapse, cutting off access to Cybercity from Donggongon. The food business is also badly affected by the flood,” he said.
Bosi said he has learned from the Chief Minister that the government has the allocation to undertake flood mitigation in Penampang.
“I think the government is too slow in undertaking the mitigation work. I would therefore urge the government to expedite the mitigation work after this flood has subsided and not wait for the next cycle of heavy rain and flooding to occur. The people of Penampang have suffered long enough,” he said.
Bosi said he found through his inspection that the collapsed road in front of a bridge at Kg Kodudungan appears to be due to bad design of the bridge.
“I also noticed that the main water pipe was hanging on the railing which was supposed to be supporting it,” he said.
He said he hoped there would be no more cost cutting or shoddy work when the flood mitigation work is being undertaken.
Earlier, Bosi was at Kg Kolopis to check on the flood situation there and managed to have a chance meeting with the Penampang District Officer Luvita Koisun, as she and her team were reportedly monitoring and assessing the flood situation with the use of two drones.
“I believe the DO, Puan Luvita Koisun, will be briefing the Chief Minister on the heavy damages caused by the flood and to impress upon him on the urgency of the flood mitigation work.
“I am also hopeful Puan Luvita will be able to help the villagers in Kg Kolopis, who are concerned about the Pan Borneo highway cutting across their village.