‘Consider resettling on higher ground’
KUCHING: People residing near rivers with high risk of flooding are asked to consider moving to higher ground so they do not get flooded out of their homes every monsoon season.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar acknowledged that it is ingrained in the Sarawakian culture to build next to rivers, but they have to consider the costs.
“It’s hard to do if the river continues to become more shallow and the river reserves are not taken care of, it’s better off to find higher ground for resettlement,” he told reporters yesterday after a 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) handover ceremony for Santubong.
Rural Sarawak, especially Baram, has been flooding with a total of 10 villages affected. According to Wan Junaidi, parts of Pahang and Terengganu have been experiencing the same problem.
“Many of our rivers are now shallow, with development and logging, and soil going into the river.”
Earlier on, Wan Junaidi handed out BR1M vouchers to the 172 recipients who were present at the handover ceremony, held at Malaysian Productivity Corporation (MPC) Hall.
In his speech, he said that this ceremony was symbolic as the easiest way to receive the BR1M money is still through the bank.
“Some of us here are unable to go to the bank, so we wanted to hand it here in a voucher today,” said Wan Junaidi, who is Santubong MP.
The government’s reasoning for BR1M is to create a social safety net and help target groups, namely those who make below RM3,000.
In this first phase of BR1M handovers, the recipients yesterday comprised of 75 from Pantai Damai and 97 from Demak Laut.
The total of BR1M recipients approved for 2017 is 14,366 people from three constituencies, namely Tanjong Datu (6,962), Pantai Damai (3,677) and Demak Laut (3,727).
This amounts to an allocation of RM5.74 million, which will be handed out in phases.