SIBU (March 25): The state government needs to conduct a detailed study into the key causes of floods in the Rajang River basin and implement targeted solutions.

In making this call, Sibu MP Oscar Ling said the current flood control plan here only covers the urban areas, excluding the outskirts area, particularly the West Bank and Salim areas, making the coverage insufficient.

“If Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg aims to transform Sibu into an ‘Amsterdam’, the flood control plan must be expanded,” he said in a press statement.

Ling stated that this year, Sibu has experienced three floods thus far, with the most recent one being dubbed as ‘unprecedented’.

In this regard, he stressed the serious need to examine upstream development, deforestation, and the dredging of bottlenecked river sections.

“The government needs to issue more sand dredging licences as well as establish cooperative system with dredging businesses, where companies can extract sand for free, in exchange for assisting in river dredging.

“I believe this is a win-win strategy and is more sustainable,” he added.

He also noted that dredging the Rajang River should not be a one-time project, but must be conducted periodically and continuously for effective results.

“Past experiences have shown that a single dredging operation is insufficient, as silt accumulated again within months,” he said.

Adding on, Ling stated that the current flood mitigation efforts in Sibu should not stop at the five-phase flood control plan, but must also focus on preserving the Rajang River.

This, he said, includes controlling upstream development and regularly clearing the river channels.

He believes that adopting a ‘sponge city’ concept should be the future direction for Sibu’s urban infrastructure development, and addressing these key areas are crucial to effectively mitigate Sibu’s flooding issues.

Furthermore, Ling was disappointed that the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) and Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) appeared to be ‘absent’ during the recent severe floods.

“In flood-stricken areas under their jurisdiction, such as the West Bank, Jalan Apollo and Jalan Ling Kai Cheng areas, there were no visible red-and-white warning tapes to mark hazardous zones.

“Many roads were submerged, making it difficult to distinguish between road and drains.

“SMC and SRDC should always be prepared for flooding, and when it happens, their officers should immediately set up warning signs and barriers to prevent vehicles from accidentally driving into drains,” he said.

On another note, the MP will also continue to pressure the state government to release disaster relief funds to repay the collapsed road and slopes in Rantau Panjang Jaya Lane 7and 12, which were affected by a landslide last Feb 4.

Since then, a total of 43 landslide victims from 10 families had been staying at the evacuation centre at the nearby Kampung Bahagia Jaya Civic Centre.