KUCHING (March 14): The existing earth drains at Kampung Stutong Iban BDC here will soon be upgraded to concrete drains to speed up water discharge and prevent further soil erosion, said Wilfred Yap.

The Kota Sentosa assemblyman said the project has been approved by the Premier’s Office under the Rural Transformation Programme (RTP), where RM300,000 will be utilised for the upgrading works.

“The village security and development committee (JKKK) headed by village chief Duris Likau had previously approached me to express their concerns of flash floods in their village as the erosion from the earth drains were going from bad to worse and were in danger of collapsing altogether.

“Despite the increase in the number of residents moving into the BDC Stutong area through new housing estates, the earth drains in the village have never been upgraded for the last 20 years,” he said in a statement.

Yap said he along with officers from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak yesterday visited the site for the drainage upgrading works.

“The visit was specifically arranged by my service centre and the JKKK to identify the critical flash flood areas so that DID, being the appointed implementing agency, can carry out the upgrading drainage works.

“I have also requested for the DID officers to urgently complete the design and specifications of the said drainage upgrading works so that the project can start and be completed as soon as possible to mitigate the inconveniences caused by flash floods,” he said.

He added he would be coordinating with DID to ensure that there will be no delay in the implementation of this RTP project.

“Subsequent RTP drainage upgrading projects are expected in Kampung Stutong Iban BDC in the near future, based on their urgency and through phased implementation to ensure financial adequacy of my annual RTP funding,” said Yap.

Kam Suan Pheng says poor water flow management could trigger landslides, pointing to several hill-related disasters within the past decade.

A geospatial expert has cautioned that a new RM2.4 billion coastal highway linking Tanjung Bungah to Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang might come at a perilous cost to Penang’s fragile hill ecosystem.

Kam Suan Pheng, coordinator of community watchdog Penang Hills Watch, warned that poor water drainage on the North Coast Paired Road (NCPR) could lead to landslides and flooding.

She told FMT that the 10.61km road would cut across multiple rivers and tributaries, disrupting natural drainage patterns that help stabilise the hills.

More than half of the NCPR would be built on the hill ranges of Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang, at a cost of RM2.4 billion, the Penang government recently announced.

Kam said the state must remember past hill-related disasters, including the fatal 2018 Bukit Kukus landslide and 2017 collapse of bungalows near Surin Condo, as examples of what could happen when seasonal waterways are obstructed.

Seasonal waterways are streams or rivers that flow only during the rainy season or after heavy rain. They stay dry most of the year but can quickly fill up when water runs off from higher ground.

Kam warned that blocking these waterways could lead to landslides, as seen in past disasters. When roads or developments disrupt natural water flow, excess water can weaken the soil, making hills unstable and prone to collapse.

“One key lesson from previous landslides is that even streams that appear dry most of the year can ‘come to life’ during the rainy season. If their natural flow is blocked or altered, it can lead to soil instability and sudden landslides,” she said.

Although part of the NCPR will extend out to the sea before returning to land near Ratu Mutiara, she warned that large sections will still cut through steep hill slopes, making it important for the government to conduct thorough hydrological and bathymetric studies before starting.

She added that she would reserve further judgment until the state releases the project’s amended Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.

An EIA was already granted some years back, but the state will submit a new one for approval since the project would go along the coast of the floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah.

“I would wait to see what the EIA has to say—hopefully it will be made public—rather than comment at this juncture,” she added.

The NCPR is a component of the Penang undersea tunnel and roads project, which in turn is part of the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan.

The NCPR aims to reduce travel time from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang from 45 minutes to just seven minutes. Construction is expected to take five years, with completion targeted by 2031.

Doubts and criticism

Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association president Zulfikar Aziz questioned the Penang government’s touting of a seven-minute travel time, saying the drastic reduction was unimaginable and mathematically impossible.

“In order to achieve a seven-minute travel time for a distance of 10.6km, you need to drive from start till the end at 90km/h,” he said.

On the other hand, environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia claimed the NCPR was a reckless project that prioritises private development interests over the environment.

“We had hoped common sense would have prevailed in not proceeding with the NCPR, given the massive hill-cutting that it will involve and the consequent negative impacts on a very fragile and environmentally sensitive area,” its president Meenakshi Raman said.

Meenakshi said the road would be built through hills above 250 feet and on slopes exceeding 25 degrees, areas she said should be protected under environmental laws.

Future human and wildlife conflicts was another major concern since the road will encroach into wildlife habitat, she added.

Meenakshi said SAM had objected to the project’s previous EIA and was surprised by the government’s decision to proceed despite earlier indications that it might be cancelled.

Both Zulkfikar and Meenakshi said the state government should focus on expanding ferry and public transport services instead of building more highways.

Zulkfikar said there has never been any real investment by the state into improving island-wide ferry services. He said a Teluk Bahang–Weld Quay ferry route would reduce car dependency, adding that Penang’s new ferry system has already proven effective.

“It is already past time that we should expand this route. Just buy some more of the same ferries and expand the route,” he said.

Meenakshi said Penang’s car-centric approach to transport went against its claims of commitment to climate change and sustainability.

Both Meenakshi and Zulfikar said that, as residents, they wanted full transparency on the project’s costs, land swaps, and environmental studies and for town halls to be held for public feedback.

PETALING JAYA: Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds have been forecast for most parts of Malaysia, including Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

In an advisory issued by the Meteorological Department at 1pm on Friday (March 14), thunderstorms are expected over Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak.

Also seeing rains are Sarawak: Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei (Pakan and Julau), Kapit (Song), Bintulu and Miri (Subis)

KOTA KINABALU: Only the Beaufort district remains affected by the flood disaster in Sabah, with 449 people from 144 families taking shelter in temporary relief centres (PPS) as of 8pm on Thursday (March 13), compared to 1,258 people from 485 families at 4pm.

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, in a statement, said that three PPS were closed in Beaufort tonight and that only five PPS are still operational in the district.

"Flood recovery is progressing, with the number of flood victims in Beaufort continuing to decrease. A total of 20 villages in Tenom have recovered from floods, while 10 villages in Beaufort remain affected," the statement said. – Bernama