Rep calls attention to resolving flash floods
KUCHING: Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How has urged Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to look into the pressing matters faced by the common folk particularly in resolving flash flood.
See, who is state PKR vice chairman, said flash floods have caused momentous inconvenience, property damage but still remained unresolved despite constant and continual promises by both the federal and state governments to mitigate and resolve them.
“I think it is good that the CM is forward-looking and is determined to undertake strategic plans to take Sarawak’s industrial development to the fourth industrial revolution or ‘ Industry 4.0’ even though we are not even at the level of ‘ Industry 2.0’, to develop the digital infrastructures such as digital village and fastest Internet connectivity in Asia, e- commerce, an incredible leap in public transportation infrastructural development into hydrogenpowered trains, LRT ( Light Railway Transit) and others.
“However, as the chief minister in Sarawak, he should also be concerned with the immediate needs and problems faced by all Sarawakians presently,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
See said the problem of flash flooding causing inconvenience, property damage and losses to the people throughout Sarawak this past week are testimonies of the weaknesses and failures by the government to tackle the pressing issues in the state.
“It will surely dent the confidence of the people towards the grand plans of the government.”
He said: “The CM must direct the Cabinet Committee for Rural Transformation to explain its unsatisfactory performance in undertaking the RM43.3 million initiatives allocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to implement 97 ‘ flash flood mitigation projects’ in Sarawak in 2017.
“Until November 2017, only nine projects were completed, 49 projects were in various stages of physical works and 39 projects were still in their tendering stage. Only 63 projects were expected to be completed this year, while 34 projects are expected to be completed next year. Only RM3.15 million or 7.3 per cent of the allocated funds were expended by November 2017.”
See pointed out that the actual allocation by the federal government to Sarawak was equally unsatisfactory and disappointing.
“For the three years in 2015, 2016 and 2017, the actual allocation and expenditure by the federal ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to DID (Department of Irrigation and Drainage) Sarawak were RM9.86 million, RM5.96 million and RM13.60 million respectively.
“For 2016 and 2017, the actual expenditure was only 11.4 per cent and 34.7 per cent of the promised allocation. And those sums actually given to Sarawak did not include the approved allocation under the 11th Malaysia Plan (RM11 million) and RM150 million specific flash flood mitigation projects (the Sarawak General Hospital, Batu Lintang area, Sg Tabuan, Taman Unigarden, SK Muara Tuang, Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho, former Federal Quarters at Batu Lintang and Jalan Ong Tiang Swee, dredging of Sg Tabuan and Taman Malihah).
“Despite having a Sarawakian appointedastheMinisterofNatural Resources and Environment, he could not ensure that the federal government fully deliver the approved allocation for Sarawak. This is utterly unacceptable.”
Therefore, See said the chief minister must immediately instruct the federal Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and state Cabinet Committee for Rural Transformation to immediately carry out the projects to widen, dredge and clean Sungai Tabuan to resolve the persistent flash flood problem that is haunting the residents in Kpg Tabuan Dayak and its vicinity.
“The flooding of Kpg Tabuan Dayak is now an ‘icon of poor project implementation’. Despite promises and allocations of more than three Malaysia Plans and the state government’s own initiatives, the projects to alleviate and mitigate flash flood in Kpg Tabuan Dayak and its vicinity remain a pledge and undertaking that is only good on paper.
“Resolve the flash flood in Kpg Tabuan Dayak now to build up the confidence of Sarawakians in the present government to undertake the strategic plans and projects for the future of Sarawak.”
Also present during the press conference were PKR women national vice president Voon Shiak Ni, state PKR vice chairman Boniface Willy Tumek, PKR Puncak Borneo branch chairman Willie Mongin and PKR Stampin branch deputy youth chief Jeffery Mok.