KUCHING: A drainage and flood mitigation review is in order with rainfall volume increasing as a result of climate change.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) needs to, in this instance, factor in the higher amount of rainfall.
In this context he said it would not be acceptable to just implement previous plans.
“This year, the amount of rain in Kuching is already 20 per cent higher than the previous ever recorded. (Which) means when planning for drainage in 2023, it must take into consideration the extra 20 per cent water.
“Though flood mitigation is under the concurrent list (50 per cent federal, 50 per cent state), Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has indicated that we can no longer be dependent on federal funding which we need as soon as possible.
“Previous estimates (pre Covid-19) was about RM4 to 5 billion for Kuching alone,” he said in a Facebook post after visiting flood victims at temporary relief centres here, Sunday (March 19).
Apart from adapting to climate change variables, Dr Sim said more nature based solutions were needed other than concrete flood mitigation structures.
On Saturday (March 18), Abang Johari said a master plan on the drainage system is needed to address the incidence of flash floods at several areas in the state.
However, the master plan needs to be done in stages as a comprehensive study on the drainage system in Sarawak is needed and it requires a large amount of funds, he said.
