Budget to deal with flash floods
> Penang to press federal govt to finish mitigation project: Lim
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Budget for 2017 is set to address flooding issues faced by the state as evident by flash floods in recent weeks.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the “vicious” flash floods were caused by climate change.
The DAP secretary-general described the scenario as a “new challenge” due to unusually heavy rainfall.
He also admitted to the failure of the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) in carrying out some flood mitigation projects but did not elaborate.
“This will be addressed during the 2017 Budget, especially on the need to press the federal government to complete the final phase of the RM350 million Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project.
“The first and second phase is done, we hope the federal government can finish the third phase, if completed, the issue of flash floods can be resolved,” he said in his speech at the Penang DAP Convention yesterday.
The Penang Budget 2017 is to be tabled at the Penang Legislative Assembly session beginning Nov 15.
Last week, several areas in Air Itam, Bandar Baru Air Itam, Batu Maung, Jalan Masjid Negeri and parts of George Town suffered severe flash floods during heavy rain resulting in the state being severely criticised.
Critics have blamed overdevelopment and urged better drainage systems be built.
Meanwhile in Balik Pulau, several residents in Kampung Perlis were rudely awakened after the roofs of their wooden houses were blown off in a windstorm on Saturday night.
Resident Nurul Qurratul Ain Sallehudin, 23, said she was sleeping when she was woken up by a loud noise at about 1.30am.
“The roof was blown off and debris was falling on me and my sister,” she said.
Nurul Qurratul expressed gratitude after she and her family, including her 66-year-old stroke-stricken mother, escaped unhurt.
Her neighbour, Wati Abu Bakar, 47, also suffered the same fate as the rain and wind lashed her home but her family was not hurt.
Pulau Betong assemblyman Farid Saad said 11 homes were affected by the phenomenon which he described as a “tornado”.