Village now better equipped to face annual flood

KUCHING: Folks in Kampung Batu Kitang Lama, a flood-prone village not far from the city, are now better equipped for flood relief and evacuation works following the purchase of a new boat powered by 10 horsepower outboard engine.

The fibreglass boat and outboard engine, costing over RM10,000, were purchased by the Village Security and Development Committee (JKKK) using funds received from Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang under his Minor Rural Project ( MRP) grant.

Some of the funds were also used to purchase torchlights and other related items as the villagers get extra prepared for floods which always hit the village during rainy season.

Lo was at the village yesterday for the symbolic handing over of the equipment and to close the ‘Sukan Rakyat’ (telematch) organised by the village’s Saberkas unit.

Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council ( MPP) chairman, said he disbursed the MRP allocation to the village to buy the equipment not long after he won the seat in the May 7 state election.

“This is one of the areas which are worst hit by flood during rainy season. Therefore, I agreed to their request to purchase the boat. This is to enable them to be better prepared and equipped when the village is flooded,” he said yesterday.

Also present at the function were MPP deputy chairman Dato Ahmad Ibrahim, community leaders and Saberkas unit leaders.

Batu Kitang Lama was flooded in January last year after the water level of Sungai Sarawak Kiri rose and inundated the village, forcing some 100 people to be evacuated.

On another matter, Lo praised Saberkas Batu Kitang Lama unit for organising the ‘Sukan Rakyat’ which aimed at bringing the villagers together to further enhance their unity.

He said he was ready to assist the 13 Saberkas units under the Batu Kitang constituency to organise activities this year.

“I encourage youths to join Saberkas, not just to be involved in healthy activities and beneficial programmes, but also as a platform for leadership training.

“I will try to get more Chinese youths to join Saberkas to give it a more racially balanced composition,” he said.