Rep laments BDA ‘inaction’ on motion to address floods at Taman Desa Damai
BINTULU: Tanjong Batu assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing said the Bintulu Development Authority ( BDA) should have acted immediately when he moved a motion of great urgency and importance during the State Legislative Assembly sitting last month on the flood situation at Taman Desa Damai which affected many people in the area.
“Unfortunately, she did not do anything. Last night after a heavy downpour many of the houses there on the first row of Taman Desa Damai were flooded again,” he said, referring to the general manager of BDA, Rodziah Morshidi.
“Although the Speaker of the House at that time had rejected my motion saying that BDA had tendered out the construction of drain for the area, I had said that that was a long-term measure and construction could take many months.
“And what about the short term and immediate measures, as it could rain again tomorrow and the folks at Taman Desa Damai would be flooded,” he added in a statement yesterday.
In fact, he said the motion ought to have been debated and voted on so that the minister in charge of BDA could explain the whole issue there more completely, laying out its plans for both long term and short term so that the flooding problem could be debated and making sure it could and would be solved immediately.
The flood which happened after midnight was about three feet high at the lower area, with yellow mud water rushing into the houses as home owners tried to stack furniture and appliances higher while others were trying to move their vehicles to higher ground.
“Luckily the rain let up otherwise the situation could be much worse and losses severe on the owners of these single-storey houses.
“I therefore urge BDA to look into this matter seriously and take immediate action to make sure that the folks of Desa Damai do not have to suffer another flood during the next rainfall as this had happened too many times already,” said Chiew.