MIRI (Feb 5): Miri City Council (MCC) has been called to reinstate the operation of roll-on roll-off (Roro) bins as part of an ongoing effort to mitigate flood incidents in residential areas such as Senadin and Permyjaya, said Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

The state Transport Minister, who is also the minister in charge of the Divisional Disaster Management Committee, said that one of the main reasons why the water level in these areas took longer to recede following last week’s flood was blocked drains.

“I went to check on the flood situation in Desa Senadin and Permyjaya last weekend, which experienced the worst flooding this time. I saw a lot of floating rubbish.

“Two days with no rain, but the water still did not subside. It was stagnant, so what was the cause then? You cannot blame the rain anymore,” he told reporters after visiting a project site at the Pujut Corner-Miri Bypass traffic light intersection yesterday.

He hoped that MCC, along with other agencies such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), would immediately clear rubbish and vegetation that are blocking the drains.

Additionally, he urged residents to be responsible when disposing of their rubbish.

“I suggest MCC reinstate the system of having Roro bins so that people have a proper place to throw their rubbish. “The public must cooperate and use the bins properly,” he said.

Lee reiterated that action can be taken against those who dispose of their rubbish irresponsibly.

During the visit to the project site, Lee called on the Land and Survey (L&S) Department to warn the developer to remove the earth that was blocking the outlet from discharging water into the main river.

Lee said that Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu was one of the villages worst affected by the recent flood due to irresponsible earth dumping into the drain.

“They blocked it, and when we asked the council (MCC) and L&S to contact the developer, they couldn’t. So in the end, the villagers had to remove the earth themselves using hoes,” he said.