KANOWIT (Dec 9): Floodwaters in several areas along Sungai Poi in Kanowit have fully receded as of this morning, with only the Sungai Menalun stretch remaining at a precautionary level.

Sibu Zone 4 Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) chief Andy Alie said monitoring teams conducted checks between 8.50am and 11.04am, confirming that previously affected areas including Rumah Lanting Niggong, Nanga Sekerah, Rumah Minggu, Sungai Poi, and SK Nanga Menalun had returned to normal conditions.

“Flooded spots around the longhouses and access roads have completely dried up.

“Only the water level at Sungai Menalun remains at a watchful stage, but the situation is stable,” he said in a statement today.

Andy added that no emergency calls were received during the patrol.

“The overall situation is under control, and our personnel will continue monitoring to ensure the safety of residents, especially with the current overcast weather,” he said.

Today’s monitoring was carried out using a pickup truck with a two-member team from the Kanowit fire station.

Andy reminded residents to stay alert to weather developments and to immediately contact the authorities if rising water levels are detected.

SIBU, 9 Dis: Lembaga Sungai-Sungai Sarawak (LSS) terus memperhebatkan pemantauan untuk memastikan keselamatan penduduk dan komuniti maritim sepanjang musim tengkujuh.

Pengerusi LSS, Dr Safiee Ahmad, berkata peningkatan paras air serta arus deras pada musim Monsun Timur Laut (MTL) ini boleh menjejaskan keselamatan, terutamanya jika pengguna lalai.

Jelas beliau lagi, keadaan akan bertambah buruk akibat sisa buangan termasuk kayu hanyut yang menghalang aliran sungai.

“Pengendali dan pengguna bot diingatkan agar sentiasa berwaspada, terutamanya ketika hujan lebat atau pada waktu malam, dan penduduk di kawasan tebingan sungai diminta untuk sentiasa berhati-hati,” katanya.

Mengulas lanjut Dr. Safiee berkata, LSS telah mengeluarkan peringatan awal kepada penduduk di kawasan berisiko banjir dan menjalankan pemantauan berterusan bagi mengesan sebarang perkembangan lebih awal.

Kerjasama dengan jawatankuasa bencana di peringkat daerah, bahagian dan negeri turut dipertingkat bagi memastikan maklumat penting disalurkan dengan cepat dan tepat.-TVS

IT’S almost 2026, but the problem of severe flooding still exists in our country! This clearly reveals the government’s failure to protect the people and address the root cause of flooding, which is the strongly pro-corporate nature of our political system.

There are two aspects to this root cause, namely:

The interests of developers and corporations are given more importance than the protection of natural resources

There are many cases where state governments allow developers and GLCs to carry out development or plantation projects on natural water catchment areas, especially forests. This damages the soil’s ability to absorb excess water during heavy rains, resulting in flooding.

There are also many development projects near rivers where sand from the worksite falls into and accumulates at the riverbed. This reduces the river’s depth, and during heavy rains, the excess water will overflow, causing flash floods in the surrounding areas.

Most of these projects are highly likely to involve bribery between the developers and certain state government leaders to obtain approval for said projects. If GLCs are involved, there is an element of cronyism and the opportunity to generate high profits for certain politicians. In addition, the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) studies are usually carried out by companies that are hired by and biased towards the developers.

Insufficient funds for way more flood mitigation projects

Given the seriousness of the annual flooding problem plaguing our country, far more flood mitigation and prevention projects need to be implemented as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, the government does not have sufficient funds due to the neoliberal capitalist nature of our political system, whereby corporate taxes are low, and there is no wealth tax because the government caters too much towards the interests and greed of the corporate, foreign investor and T20 classes.

Steps that must be taken immediately

The federal government must press and work with each state to establish independent committees to strictly monitor and control any changes in state land status, especially in forests and water catchment areas. This is to ensure that such areas are protected from any development projects.

Only the DOE (Department of Environment) should be allowed to select and pay companies to conduct EIAs, instead of developers. Developers should pay the DOE depending on the project type and size to cover the cost of the EIA.

The federal government must pressure each state government to ban all new development and plantation projects in natural water catchment areas and near rivers. Such projects that have just begun should be stopped.

Many more reservoirs should be built near areas that are prone to severe flooding and are at high risk of flooding throughout the country.

Desilting operations should be carried out in major rivers in each state, especially those near development projects.

The drainage and sewer systems throughout Malaysia should be reviewed, and those that are too narrow and shallow should be redesigned to be wider and deeper. Local governments should clear clogged drains more frequently.

If funding constraints are the main obstacle to flood mitigation projects such as steps 4-6, the government should urge other ASEAN countries to collectively increase their corporate taxes, as well as impose a wealth tax. This is the best solution to generate more funds instead of burdening ordinary citizens, and it will prevent the flight of foreign investors from Malaysia to other ASEAN countries. – December 9, 2025

Raveen Jeyakumar is a writer who’s passionate about social and environmental issues

KUCHING (Dec 9): A total of 130 flood evacuees are currently taking shelter at four active temporary relief centres (PPS) in the Bintulu, Subis, and Miri districts, according to the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) in a 6pm update on Tuesday.

In Subis, two PPS were opened at around 2pm, accommodating evacuees from Kampung Angus (11 people) and Kampung Daerah Subis (34 people).

In Miri, 29 evacuees from Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu Miri are being housed at the PPS at Dewan Bulan Sabit Merah, which became operational at around 10am.

In Bintulu, 56 evacuees from Kampung Kemunting and Rumah Roslind were moved to the Dewan Suarah PPS after it was activated at 12.30am.