No proof highway caused floods

Pan borneo project not to blame for rising water, says assistant minister

KOTA KINABALU: There is no proof that the Pan Borneo Highway project is causing worse flash floods in Sabah, the state assembly has been told.

State Public Works Assistant Minister Datuk Limus Jury said the effect of flash floods from the construction was also not at a serious level.

He said the design and engineering of the highway was done to minimise any adverse impact, with scheduled checks and monitoring of the project being carried out.

“The government is always checking to see if there is a need to redesign the drainage system based on current requirements and feedback from the public,” he added.

Limus said to prepare for the northeast monsoon season, the ministry had started working with the relevant agencies and departments to collect data to get to the root of the flooding problem.

“The factors contributing to flash floods include improper development planning that did not take into account the existing drainage system and waste (disposal),” he said.

He was responding to questions on flash floods in Penampang and other areas, which many claimed were made worse by the Pan Borneo Highway project.

Kapayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang said she could not believe that the project was not the major reason for flash floods in Penampang and other areas in Sabah.

She asked for a full and detailed report to support the explanation given by the Limus.

To this, Limus said the documents and details were being compiled and would be shared once they were completed.

He said improvements and a redesign of the drainage system would be carried out if there was a necessity.

State Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, when presenting his winding-up speech, said one of the reasons for floods in Penampang was because “people have not been fair to nature”.

He also said there could be a lack of environmental awareness, adding that the issue did not only involve one agency or party.

Masidi said there was also a possibility that illegal private and commercial property extensions were done without proper planning and approval from local authorities.