MIRI (Feb 5): A family-established local trust fund has contributed aid to the victims of the floods and landslides here.

The Pewarisi Haji Solhi Trust Fund was established by the family of the late local figure, Solhi Edin, meant as a platform to help provide financial assistance for education and other necessities to the family members, as well as to support the neighbouring communities in times of need.

Demonstrating its commitment to helping those affected by disasters, the fund committee held a simple handing-over ceremony at the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Miri temporary relief centre (PPS) yesterday.

The trust fund’s patron Datuk Sharbini Suhaili personally delivered the donations to victims of the recent floods and landslide here.

He was accompanied by the fund’s chairman Alimin Solhi.

The flooding in Sarawak, which first struck late last month, has displaced many families, while a landslide in Kampung Lereng Bukit here on Jan 28 claimed five lives and forced many to evacuate their houses.

KUCHING (Feb 5): The role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) cannot be underestimated when it comes to response to disasters, as can be seen in the recent floods.

In pointing this out, Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi said while government agencies and security forces hold a significant responsibility in disaster management, NGOs provide critical on-the-ground support, ensuring that all aid and assistance would reach affected communities swiftly and effectively.

“For those impacted by floods or any other disasters, this assistance is meant to ease their burden.

“While the government and the military are mobilised to provide emergency aid, NGOs are often the ones who are able to reach those in need more efficiently, offering immediate relief and long-term support,” he said.

He was speaking at a ceremony to present allocations amounting to RM282,000 from the Pantai Damai Service Centre here to 67 organisations, including NGOs and educational institutions from the Pantai Damai constituency.

Adding on, Dr Abdul Rahman also emphasised the importance of collaboration between NGOs, government agencies and other groups towards enhancing the preparedness for disasters and improving response efforts.

Moreover, the Pantai Damai assemblyman underscored the need for greater participation of youths in community-building efforts, ensuring that they would continue to be well-informed about Sarawak’s long-term development agenda.

“I would like to emphasise is that in facilitating our growth journey, we want to make sure that we can deliver information to the members of the community, especially when it involves the younger generation.

“Perhaps it is not just about sharing the objectives of our leadership direction or the utilisation of Sarawak’s resources currently being pursued by our leadership—more importantly, our leadership is making provisions for the people, ensuring a better future for Sarawak in the next 10 to 20 years,” he added.

MIRI (Feb 5): Miri City Council (MCC) has been called to reinstate the operation of roll-on roll-off (Roro) bins as part of an ongoing effort to mitigate flood incidents in residential areas such as Senadin and Permyjaya, said Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

The state Transport Minister, who is also the minister in charge of the Divisional Disaster Management Committee, said that one of the main reasons why the water level in these areas took longer to recede following last week’s flood was blocked drains.

“I went to check on the flood situation in Desa Senadin and Permyjaya last weekend, which experienced the worst flooding this time. I saw a lot of floating rubbish.

“Two days with no rain, but the water still did not subside. It was stagnant, so what was the cause then? You cannot blame the rain anymore,” he told reporters after visiting a project site at the Pujut Corner-Miri Bypass traffic light intersection yesterday.

He hoped that MCC, along with other agencies such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), would immediately clear rubbish and vegetation that are blocking the drains.

Additionally, he urged residents to be responsible when disposing of their rubbish.

“I suggest MCC reinstate the system of having Roro bins so that people have a proper place to throw their rubbish. “The public must cooperate and use the bins properly,” he said.

Lee reiterated that action can be taken against those who dispose of their rubbish irresponsibly.

During the visit to the project site, Lee called on the Land and Survey (L&S) Department to warn the developer to remove the earth that was blocking the outlet from discharging water into the main river.

Lee said that Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu was one of the villages worst affected by the recent flood due to irresponsible earth dumping into the drain.

“They blocked it, and when we asked the council (MCC) and L&S to contact the developer, they couldn’t. So in the end, the villagers had to remove the earth themselves using hoes,” he said.

Kuching: Kerosakan infrastruktur awam akibat banjir luar biasa yang melanda Sarawak sejak 29 Januari lalu dianggarkan mencecah ratusan juta ringgit.

Timbalan Premier Sarawak, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian berkata, anggaran itu diperoleh hasil laporan awal yang dibentangkan pada mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN) Sarawak, malam tadi.

Dr Sim yang juga Menteri Kesihatan Awam, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan berkata, kerugian dan kerosakan yang ditanggung oleh isi rumah dan sektor swasta juga mencecah angka sama.

"Sembilan bahagian yang terjejas banjir di Sarawak sudah mengemukakan penilaian mereka kepada JPBN mengenai kerosakan harta benda awam dan swasta akibat banjir," katanya dalam hantaran di laman Facebook, hari ini.

Mesyuarat berkenaan dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Premier yang juga pengerusi JPBN, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Dr Sim berkata, berikutan keadaan cuaca semakin baik dan air mulai surut lebih banyak pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) ditutup.

"Setakat jam 8 malam tadi, 39 pusat pemindahan telah ditutup dan 40 lagi masih aktif," katanya.

Selain itu, beliau turut meminta lebih ramai sukarelawan tampil untuk membantu membersihkan kesan banjir.

Sehingga jam 8 pagi ini, jumlah mangsa banjir yang masih berlindung di PPS menurun kepada 9,039 orang daripada 2,668 keluarga.

Daripada 40 PPS yang masih aktif, Miri mencatat in jumlah tertinggi iaitu 12, Serian (7), Bintulu (9), Sibu (5), Samarahan (4) dan Mukah (3).

Bintulu pula mencatat jumlah mangsa tertinggi dengan seramai 4,492, Serian (1,525), Miri (1,406), Sibu (828), Samarahan (523) dan Mukah (265).