SIBU: Due to the influence of the northeast monsoon, many areas in Sarawak have been experiencing continuous rainfall, causing a sharp rise in the Rajang River’s water level.
The low-lying areas along Sibu’s West Bank have been particularly affected, frequently experiencing floods that severely impact residents’ daily lives and road safety.
Irene Wong, special assistant to Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew, pointed out that in recent years, climate change has led to increased rainfall, while frequent logging activities upstream have caused sediment accumulation, making the riverbed shallower and reducing the Rajang River’s water storage capacity.
“These factors have worsened the flooding problem, leaving residents on the West Bank facing the same crisis year after year.
“Despite the implementation of two phases of flood mitigation plans in the past, we can see that the drainage issues in the western riverbank area remain unresolved. Particularly in areas such as Jalan Ma’aw to Sungai Sadit Kwong Hua, the drainage system is clearly inadequate.
“Every time it rains heavily, the area turns into a ‘water world’, preventing residents from returning home or going to work, seriously affecting their daily lives,” she said in a statement on Friday (March 21).
She stressed that authorities should not wait until the situation worsens before taking action but should instead plan ahead and implement effective flood control measures in advance.
Addressing the current flooding issues, Wong proposed several recommendations, urging the government to consider them seriously and take immediate action.
The recommendations include review and reassess flood mitigation plans to ensure that the West Bank area receives proper attention and is not continuously overlooked; regularly dredge the riverbed and clear drainage systems to reduce sediment buildup and improve the water discharge capacity of rivers and drains; install additional pump stations to speed up water discharge and prevent prolonged water accumulation, and restore upstream forest coverage to reduce soil erosion and address flooding at its source.
Wong noted that Sarawak is a state with billions in revenue, and the government should allocate resources reasonably to address the real difficulties faced by the people rather than allowing the flooding problem to persist year after year.
“We cannot ignore floods just because they happen every year. Instead, we must implement short-term emergency measures such as deepening drainage channels and expanding drainage systems while also formulating long-term flood prevention strategies to address the issue at its root.
“The government must demonstrate political will to ensure that residents on the West Bank are no longer troubled by floods,” she said.
She added that while the government may need time to develop a more comprehensive and effective flood prevention plan, immediate action is still necessary.
“For now, we can take gradual steps to reduce the impact of floods by implementing short-term relief measures. This will help improve residents’ living conditions before the government rolls out a more complete flood control plan. Then, we can gradually move towards a full-scale flood prevention initiative.”
Wong urged the relevant government departments to conduct on-site inspections immediately and work with local representatives and experts to formulate more effective flood control solutions, ensuring a safe and stable living environment for the residents of Sibu.
