SIBU (Jan 13): No sign of floods have been detected so far in Kanowit following continuous monitoring carried out by the Kanowit District Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB) on Tuesday, despite rainy conditions in the area.

Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Sibu district officer Maj (PA) Mohd Reduan Aini said inspections conducted throughout the day found that water levels at identified hotspot locations remained normal, with no flooding reported.

“Monitoring carried out from morning until late afternoon confirmed that there was no rise in water levels at all inspected locations, and no water was detected on roads or in drainage systems,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The monitoring, conducted from 8am to 4pm, covered several locations including Rumah Bajut Sungai Mapai Hilir, Jalan Utama Nibong Tada, and Simpang Ulu Tuah.

Checks at all sites showed no water accumulation on roads or in nearby drains.

According to him, the operation was carried out smoothly and safely by a two-member team, with continued vigilance maintained due to ongoing light rain.

Reduan added that APM will continue monitoring flood-prone and hotspot areas in Kanowit as a precautionary measure and advised the public to remain alert and follow official updates should weather conditions worsen.

KUCHING: Satu pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) banjir di Sarawak ditutup petang ini, menjadikan PPS yang masih aktif di negeri itu kini menjadi sembilan.

Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN) Sarawak memaklumkan PPS aktif membabitkan kawasan Serian, Sibu, Bintulu dan Sebauh.

Menurut jawatankuasa itu, setakat jam 4 petang ini juga jumlah mangsa banjir menurun kepada 1,630 orang daripada 506 keluarga, berbanding 1,773 mangsa daripada 560 keluarga pagi tadi.

"Antara PPS menempatkan mangsa paling ramai ialah PPS Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Puteh di Serian dengan 448 mangsa daripada 131 keluarga, Dewan Masyarakat Serian (311 mangsa daripada 91 keluarga) dan PPS Dewan Suarah Bintulu (262 mangsa daripada 84 keluarga).

"Selain itu, PPS Dewan Sri Kemena Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sebauh menempatkan 189 mangsa daripada 57 keluarga," menurut makluman itu.

Bencana banjir di Sarawak kali ini bermula pada 31 Dis tahun lepas, apabila beberapa kawasan di sekitar bandar raya Kuching dilanda banjir susulan hujan lebat berterusan. – BERNAMA

KUCHING (Jan 13): A resident living in the low-lying Lorong Stampin Barat 4A area has voiced growing anxiety over the risk of flash floods should heavy rain coincide with the king tide expected from Jan 17 to 21.

The resident, speaking on condition of anonymity and representing her neighbours, said unresolved drainage issues have left the area vulnerable despite repeated complaints to the authorities, particularly the Kuching South City Council (MBKS).

She explained Lorong Stampin Barat 4A is also located behind the flood-prone Iris Garden area, compounding the issues at hand.

She said even one hour of continuous heavy rain is enough to cause the monsoon drain to overflow, spilling water onto nearby roads.

“If heavy rain persists for two hours, floodwaters would begin entering most houses in the area.

“The water rises very fast. After two hours of heavy rain, it would already reach my door. This has become very stressful,” the resident told The Borneo Post.

She added that she prays daily for the rain not to be too heavy, especially with the upcoming king tide.

According to her, the floods are not caused by small roadside drains, but by poorly maintained monsoon drains, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

“These large concrete drains are clogged with overgrown grass, bushes and possible debris, slowing down water flow during intense rainfall.

“The small drains are cleared by the city council, but all that water flows into the monsoon drain. When that drain is full and blocked, where does the water go?” the resident asked.

She cited the night of Dec 31, 2025, when about an hour of very heavy rain caused roads in the area to flood.

Although the water receded relatively quickly when the rain slowed to a drizzle, she believe this was due to the rainfall easing rather than any improvement in drainage capacity.

The flooding not only affects Lorong Stampin Barat 4 but also that of 4A and 4A1 – areas situated between Iris Garden and Taman Hui Sing.

“Residents here also questioned whether it was appropriate for a commercial building extension to be constructed over a monsoon drain, expressing concern that debris beneath the structure could further obstruct water flow,” she said.

Despite sending photos and complaints to MBKS, she said only the smaller drains were cleared.

In earlier complaints, they were informed that monsoon drains fall under DID’s responsibility, she added.

“There has been no lasting relief because the root cause has not been addressed,” the resident said, calling on engineers from both MBKS and DID to clearly identify and resolve the source of recurring flash floods.

She urged authorities to carry out comprehensive cleaning of monsoon drains, including the removal of vegetation and debris, and to ensure maintenance is done along the entire drainage route to where the water is supposed to discharge.

Meanwhile, Kuching South mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng, when contacted, said he is seeking detailed input from the council’s Engineering Department and that a project proposal may be submitted under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) to address drainage and flooding issues.

However, the resident remains concerned that without immediate intervention, the neighbourhood could once again be hit by floods, particularly if heavy rainfall coincides with the upcoming king tide.

“We may still be flooded. That is our biggest fear.”

SERIAN, 13 Jan: Kejadian banjir yang hampir setiap tahun melanda Kampung Tanah Puteh menyebabkan penduduk di kawasan itu semakin lali dan sentiasa bersedia, khususnya ketika musim hujan berpanjangan pada penghujung tahun.

Seorang mangsa banjir, Siti Jamarriah Sufian, 30, berkata beliau sememangnya menjangka banjir akan berlaku saban tahun di kampung berkenaan, namun tidak menyangka paras air meningkat dengan mendadak kali ini.

Menurutnya, meskipun tinggal bersama ibunya, Haminah Lek, 58, mereka sekeluarga sudah membuat persediaan awal dengan memindahkan barangan penting ke tempat lebih tinggi sejak malam Sabtu lalu.

“Saya memaklumkan kepada emak dan adik bahawa air sedang naik. Saya dan adik berjaga hingga tengah malam untuk memindahkan barang ke tingkat atas kerana emak tidak dapat membantu akibat sakit kaki,” katanya.

Siti ditemui TVS bersama adiknya, Nurlida Haryati Sufian, 17, ketika membersihkan bahagian bawah rumah mereka di Kampung Tanah Puteh di sini, hari ini.

Beliau berkata, sebagai anak jati Kampung Tanah Puteh, beliau tidak berhasrat untuk berpindah ke kawasan lain walaupun terpaksa berdepan ancaman banjir yang berlaku hampir setiap tahun.

Sementara itu, tinjauan TVS di Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Puteh mendapati seramai 448 mangsa daripada 131 keluarga kini ditempatkan di Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) yang dibuka di sekolah berkenaan.

Kesemua mangsa ditempatkan di dewan sekolah serta beberapa bilik darjah yang dijadikan lokasi penempatan sementara dengan khemah turut didirikan bagi menempatkan mangsa banjir.