KOTA KINABALU (Jan 4):The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) Sabah Branch expresses its deep concern over Saturday’s flood which affected several areas such as Kolombong, Inanam and Menggatal in Kota Kinabalu, and caused significant disruption to daily life, damage to property, and hardship to affected communities.

As a professional body representing engineers of various disciplines, IEM Sabah acknowledges that flood events are often the result of complex and interrelated factors, including extreme weather conditions, drainage capacity limitations, urban development patterns, tidal influences, and long-term infrastructure constraints.

In this regard, IEM Sabah stands ready and is willing to provide technical support and professional input to relevant authorities, agencies, and stakeholders in addressing both the immediate impacts and long-term mitigation measures related to the recent flood incident.

“Our members comprise experienced professionals in civil engineering, hydrology, drainage and flood control, geotechnical engineering, coastal engineering, urban infrastructure planning, and environmental engineering. Where requested, IEM Sabah can contribute through the technical advice and professional opinions; independent engineering assessments; review of drainage and flood mitigation strategies and sharing of best practices and lessons learnt from similar flood-prone regions,” said IEM Sabah Branch chairman 1 Ir. Ts. Tan KJ,  FIEM, JP.

IEM Sabah believes that effective flood management requires a coordinated, data-driven, and technically sound approach, supported by professional expertise and long-term planning. Collaboration among government agencies, local authorities, technical professionals, and the community is essential to develop resilient and sustainable solutions for Kota Kinabalu and Sabah as a whole, he said.

“We reaffirm IEM Sabah’s commitment to serving the public interest and supporting initiatives that enhance infrastructure resilience, public safety, and environmental sustainability,” added Tan.