KUCHING (Oct 23): Several residential areas in Kuching South were once again inundated following a heavy downpour around 6pm on Wednesday, prompting renewed calls for accountability from the authorities over the longstanding flash flood problem.

Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong said areas such as Pending Heights, Bintawa Fishing Village, Sungai Apong, and Foochow Road No. 1 were among those badly affected, with rainwater overflowing into homes within minutes.

“Household items, electrical appliances, furniture and vehicles were damaged. Many residents were left helpless, spending long hours cleaning mud and debris from their flooded homes,” she said in a statement today.

She called on the Sarawak government to announce and distribute a compassionate fund to assist the residents in the affected areas.

“These victims should not be left to bear the burden alone when the root cause of their suffering lies in the government’s neglect and failure in proper urban drainage management.”

Yong described the incident as a ‘recurring nightmare’ that has plagued residents for decades, despite numerous public complaints and her repeated calls in the State Legislative Assembly for action.

She said it was unacceptable that in this day and age, Kuching residents must still suffer property damage and hardship every time it rains heavily, adding that it reflected a serious lapse in urban planning and infrastructure management.

“What is most shocking and ironic is that in Pending Heights, the flash flood situation has actually worsened after the recent drainage upgrading works by MBKS (Kuching South City Council).

“This raises serious questions about the competency of the project, the quality of the planning, and whether there was a proper master drainage plan for the area in the first place,” she added.

As such, Yong called on the Sarawak Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), and MBKS to be held accountable for their failure to resolve the persistent problem.

She also urged the DID and MBKS to conduct a detailed technical assessment and rectify all failed drainage upgrading works in known flood-prone areas without further delay.