BINTULU (Jan 12): As torrential rain falls, low-lying streets are quickly submerged and drainage swells rapidly, and fear once again descends upon residents in Gem Park.

To date, the residential area has recorded five major flood incidents on Nov 27, 2020; Oct 31, 2022; Jan 28, 2025; Dec 9, 2025; and the most recent on Jan 10 this year.

The repeated disasters have long cemented Gem Park’s reputation among residents as a high-risk, flood-prone area—which lays bare the reality of its existing drainage reaching its capacity.

For residents there, the expansion, widening, and deepening of drainage is no longer optional but an urgent necessity.

“The rainy season does not wait. Can we afford to keep waiting? Rain comes and water does not wait. Rather than sitting idly by, we must prepare in advance,” said one resident who only wished to be identified as Lim.

He stressed that flood mitigation efforts could no longer remain reactive, but instead be guided by forward-looking planning and accelerated implementation of flood prevention projects and comprehensive upgrades to drainage.

“Otherwise, the severe floods at the beginning of 2025 may prove to be merely a prelude to even greater disaster,” he said.

For residents who have endured repeated floods, the heavy rainfall is not just another rainstorm but a recurring nightmare.

Each time the rainy season rolls around, the residents’ social media and messaging groups automatically turn into real-time flood monitoring hubs as videos, photos and voice messages flood the chats—some measure water levels at their doorsteps, others plan emergency self-rescue, while many voice growing anger and frustration.

Lim said authorities must act immediately and accelerate dredging works, optimise drainage, and strengthen urban flood resilience instead of only responding after public anger boils over.

“We pay our taxes, yet where is our protection?”

Adding to their frustration is the five year delay in relocating illegal wooden houses along both banks of Sungai Sibiu, which they believe is a core obstacle that cannot be avoided in flood mitigation planning.

“We’ve heard the same promises over and over, how much longer must we wait? We pay our taxes and live in constant fear of floods, while illegal settlers occupying riverbanks become the reason dredging cannot proceed. If that’s the case, why not relocate us to safer areas instead?”

Under Phase 2 of the Bintulu Flood Mitigation Project, the Sarawak Planning Authority has approved upgrades at Gem Park, among other sites, with plans to construct flood embankments and a pumping system.

However, Lim expressed his reservations, noting that pumping systems have failed at critical moments in the past, with the two most recent floods serving as clear evidence.

He believed that without simultaneously addressing river capacity and overall drainage network, the effectiveness of flood mitigation measures will remain limited.

Meanwhile, the ongoing road and drainage upgrading project along Jalan Kasturi has also drawn close scrutiny from Gem Park residents, as it is not only a vital access road to schools but connects it with other residential areas.

They opined that with heavy traffic flow, both engineering design and construction quality must prioritise safety and functionality and its current design remained flawed despite being intended to reduce excessive water flow concentration towards Gem Park.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seramai 3,039 mangsa banjir daripada 1,052 keluarga masih berlindung di 38 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di Sarawak dan Sabah, setakat jam 6.30 pagi ini.

Menurut portal Infobencana Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM), Sarawak merekod jumlah teramai dengan 2,673 mangsa daripada 914 keluarga, manakala Sabah merekodkan 366 mangsa daripada 138 keluarga.

Di Sarawak, sebanyak 36 PPS dibuka membabit lima daerah di Bintulu, Serian, Sibu, Mukah dan Miri, manakala di Sabah dua PPS masih dibuka membabitkan satu daerah di Beaufort.

Daripada segi taburan pecahan mangsa, 1,953 mangsa terdiri dari lelaki dan wanita dewasa termasuk 439 warga emas, sementara 1,025 lagi kanak-kanak dan 61 bayi.

Dalam pada itu, Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia) mengeluarkan amaran ribut petir, hujan lebat dan angin kencang di Sarawak sehingga 9 pagi ini.

Menurut kenyataan MetMalaysia, cuaca buruk itu dijangka melanda di Kuching (Kuching), Sarikei (Sarikei dan Meradong) dan Mukah (Tanjung Manis, Daro, Matu dan Dalat).

"Amaran dikeluarkan apabila terdapat tanda-tanda menunjukkan ribut petir dengan intensiti hujan melebihi 20 mm/jam yang hampir atau dijangka berlaku melebihi sejam.

"Amaran ribut petir adalah amaran jangka pendek yang sah dalam tempoh tidak melebihi enam jam untuk satu-satu keluaran," katanya.

26 sekolah di Sarawak dijangka tidak dapat beroperasi hari ini kerana banjir

Sementara itu BERNAMA melaporkan 26 sekolah di Sarawak dijangka tidak dapat memulakan operasi pada hari pertama sesi persekolahan hari ini kerana masih terjejas banjir, kata Pengarah Pendidikan Negeri, Omar Mahli.

Beliau berkata hasil tinjauan semalam mendapati, tiga sekolah yang terjejas terletak di Daro, Mukah di Selangau, Sibu (4) dan Tatau,Sebauh di Bintulu (19).

"Sekolah yang terlibat ialah SK KG Pangtray, SK OK Selair, SJK (C) Chung Hua di Daro; dan SK Nangga Selangau, SK Kuala Lemai, SK Ulu Sg Arip dan SK St Mark di Selangau.

"Manakala 19 buah sekolah di Tatau dan Sebauh membabitkan SJK (C) Chung Hua Tatau, SJK(C) Chung San, SK Bukit Mawang, SK Hermanus Assan, SK Kuala Binyo, SK Kuala Kebulu, SK Kuala Muput, SK Kuala Sigu, SK Labang, SK Ng Penyarai, SK Ng Tau, SK Pandan, SK Rh Tayai, Sk Sebauh, SK Sg Bukit Balai, SK Sg Genaan, SK Sg Sebungan, SK Sg Sengian dan SK Sg Bagian," katanya.

Beliau berkata sekolah terbabit tidak dapat beroperasi disebabkan kawasan sekolah yang masih digenangi air, selain jalan di kawasan kediaman atau kampung tidak dapat diakses kerana banjir.

Sementara itu, Omar berkata lapan sekolah di negeri itu dijadikan PPS iaitu tujuh di Serian dan satu di Selangau.

KUCHING (Jan 12): There are currently 3,111 flood victims being housed at 25 temporary evacuation centres (PPS) across Sarawak.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said in its 8am update that Serian Division had the highest number of evacuees at 2,197 victims from 670 households at 17 PPS.

Most of the victims from the division are from Kampung Tanah Putih with 431 villagers from 125 households being placed at SK Tanah Putih PPS.

The second highest number of evacuees was recorded in Bintulu Division, with 609 from 214 households at three PPS.

This was followed by Sibu with 244 victims from 64 households placed at two PPS and Miri with 61 evacuees from 14 households at three PPS.

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 7): The Dewan Masyarakat Tun Said temporary evacuation centre (PPS) in Kota Belud was officially declared closed today, as the weather in the district has calmed down.

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee said 260 people from 90 families taking refuge at the PPS returned to their homes in Kampung Suang Punggur, Kampung Suang Kina, Kampung Marajah and Kampung Song-Song.

They were assisted by the Civil Defence Department, Fire and Rescue Department and other agencies.

Meanwhile, the number of flood evacuees taking shelter at seven PPS, namely Dewan Slagon and Dewan Residensi Prima Woodford Estate in Beaufort; Dewan Terbuka Labut 2, Rumah Kebudayaan Kampung Ponontomon, Rumah Kebudayaan Mandalom Lama, Rumah Kebudayaan Pantongan Saga and SK Saga in Tenom remain unchanged.

The PPS at Masjid Darau Ikhlas Kampung Batandok Lubak and Dewan Sri Dayang Shahbandar Padas Damit, both in Beaufort, are currently accommodating 37 people from 12 families and 11 people from five families respectively, while the number of fire victims taking shelter at Dewan Sri Keramat in Putatan is 44 people from 12 families.