Dennis calls on PM to extend flood aid to Sarawak, particularly Telang Usan
MIRI: Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau is calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Yaakob to extend flood assistance to Sarawak, in particular his constituency which has been affected by floods several times this year.
In an interview here yesterday, Dennis said some villages in Telang Usan had already experienced as many as five floods this year alone, leaving a trail of destruction to homes, bridges and roads.
“For example, Long Bemang and Long Panai were flooded five times this year. And this is not the end of the year yet.
“The floods this year are the worst in recent history where many had come to me and complained about the damage to their house’s structure and crops. But we cannot do much except give them food assistance,” he said.
Dennis also pointed out that the massive flood in May this year had swept away the Tutoh bridge in Baram which was the lifeline for the community there.
“The bridge is very important as it is the only means for some 20 villages and settlements in upper Baram to travel to other parts of the division and beyond. Now the bridge is gone and the repair work has not started.”
He said the bridge not only served the community in Telang Usan but also those wanting to go to Lawas and Limbang via the logging road from Miri and vice versa, especially now that Brunei’s border is closed.
Dennis then disclosed that his request to the federal Public Works Department (JKR) and National Security Council (MKN) for funds to repair the bridge has yet to receive any response.
“The PM had allocated RM78 million for infrastructure repairs and aid to more than 1,000 families affected by the flash floods in Kedah last month. We in Telang Usan really hope that the PM could extend similar assistance to us so that we can assist our people who have also been suffering due to the various floods.
“We would also like to repair infrastructures such as the Tutoh bridge because it is very important to the people there,” he said.
Dennis also pointed out the urgent need to repair a hanging bridge at a Penan settlement in Long Luteng which was swept away by strong current during a recent flood.
“It was used by the Penan community there to send their children to school which is located on the other side of the river,” he said.
With schools reopening next month, the assemblyman hopes Putrajaya could expedite the repair of the hanging bridge so that the students could return to school without having to use the old way, which is by longboat.
Dennis also took the opportunity to invite the prime minister to visit Baram in the near future. recently.