BINTULU: Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing spent the first day of Chinese New Year assisting flood victims following heavy rain and king tide that left large parts of the district submerged.
In several social media posts, pictures and videos showed the Bintulu MP on the ground, personally assisting in evacuating stranded residents, particularly the elderly, women, and children, from their homes.
“In the worst-hit locations, water levels have risen to nearly the second floor of residential buildings,” he said.
Many flood victims were left stranded, waiting for help as rescue teams worked around the clock to bring them to safety.
At this critical juncture, Tiong expressed his gratitude to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) for swiftly activating its 24-hour emergency response mechanism.
He acknowledged the coordinated efforts of the Resident’s Office and the relevant authorities—including the Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysia Civil Defence Department, military, and police—in mobilising rescue and relief operations.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to Sarawak Deputy Premier and SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, as well as all rescue personnel and relief teams,” he said.
Tiong also commended the Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) and the P217 Bintulu Service Centre team for their swift action in deploying search and rescue boats to evacuate affected residents and transport them to five designated flood relief centres.
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Recognising the severity of the situation, additional personnel from the Fire and Rescue Departments in Sibu, Miri, Labuan, and Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) have been mobilised to assist in disaster relief efforts.
Two speedboats from PDP’s Central Region Disaster Relief Task Force are also being deployed to support ongoing rescue operations.
While acknowledging that the extreme weather conditions contributed to the disaster, Tiong stressed that infrastructure inadequacies had worsened the situation.
“We cannot ignore the possibility that human factors have exacerbated the severity of the flooding. Issues such as flaws in Bintulu’s drainage system have prevented Sungai Sebiew from effectively discharging excess water, causing a rapid surge in river levels,” he said.
Tiong pointed out that the worst-affected areas were those surrounding Sungai Sebiew, with the strong currents further complicating rescue operations and increasing risks for both victims and responders.
He said the long-overdue deepening and widening of Sungai Sebiew had remained a mere proposal for nearly five years, with no progress made.
“This devastating flood should serve as an urgent warning—relevant agencies must take responsibility. I have repeatedly emphasised that the river must be deepened by at least three to five metres and widened to 100 metres to accommodate increasing rainfall due to climate change. Only by doing so can we prevent such disasters from recurring,” he said.
At the same time, Tiong highlighted the urgent need to deepen the riverbed of Sungai Kemena, which connects directly to the sea.
He said severe sedimentation had caused gradual shallowing, making it difficult for boats to navigate.
“During the upcoming meeting at the Resident’s Office on Feb 10, I will again stress the urgency of deepening and widening these two rivers. I would also propose halting the construction of a bridge connecting Taman Jason and Taman Kemena Sutera to prevent disruptions to the riverbed works.
“The relocation of residents living in illegal settlements along both riverbanks must also be expedited to facilitate these deepening and widening efforts, as their continued residence poses significant safety risks,” he said.
Tiong described the situation as heartbreaking, noting that many homes had been adorned with festive red decorations in anticipation of Chinese New Year celebrations, only to be destroyed by the floods.
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“A relentless downpour has devastated these homes, causing immense financial losses and forcing families to wait helplessly in relief centres for the floodwaters to recede before returning to scenes of destruction.
“We cannot allow the people of Bintulu to suffer such hardship again. The deepening and widening of these two rivers must commence without further delay to mitigate the risk of flash floods,” he said.
For those in need of assistance, Tiong urged them to contact him directly at 019-9565555, the P217 Bintulu Parliamentary Constituency Service Centre at 086-312979, or the Special Affairs Officer to the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Steven Kong Kai Seng at 012-8049663.
Residents may also reach out via the following emergency contact numbers: 086-332222, 086-318233, 086-339781, and 014-8821243 (Kebajikan).