“We need to study our drainage system overall for improvement, which we can then implement in stages. We must have a proper system in place to be developed until one day in future there will be no floods, even during heavy rain, as the storm drains will be well managed,’’
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg
Last week, the weather was very unpredictable – one day it’s bright and sunny then the next it’s raining cats and dogs.
On days when it was experiencing heavy downpour, several areas in Sarawak were affected by flood.
For instance, residents of Kampung Sinar Budi Baru in Taman Desa Wira, Batu Kawah, Kuching have been inundated by floods no less than five times as of March this year.
I remember checking on one of my colleagues who is residing there on whether her house was affected.
It was heartbreaking to see the pictures she shared in which the muddy brown waters had come up to waist high in her house.
When I asked her “what was the first thing you did when the water started to rise?”, her response was “I told my husband to save our sofa”.
They had purchased the black fabric chesterfield sofa set last year for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, so it is fairly new and definitely precious to them.
She did not want to lose the sofa set like the bedroom set they bought when they first moved into their house which was badly damaged and had to be disposed after several rounds of flood incident.
After the flood situation subsided, the couple like many other flood victims had to spend a few days cleaning up their house.
The most challenging part of this was getting rid of the stench from the muddy brown waters.
I cannot begin to imagine what it is like or how does it feel like to be a flood victim, but I truly sympathize with those who are affected including owners of vehicles that were submerged and they are unable to do anything about it.
The flood incident in Sarawak does not only take physical, emotional, and financial toll on victims, but also pose safety concerns especially for villagers residing in areas near the river.
About a week ago, two crocodiles have escaped after their enclosure at the Matang Wildlife Centre near Kuching was damaged following a heavy rain.
The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) together with the local authorities had taken prompt actions to monitor and track down the crocodiles – the search is still ongoing.
The state government is doing something about the drainage and irrigation systems in Sarawak to improve flood management.
Earlier this month, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that a comprehensive study will be conducted on improving the drainage system in low-lying areas across Sarawak to address the issue.
He said the study could be based on the successful system implemented in the Netherlands as the country is situated below sea level but has managed to keep the water at bay.
He also referred to the situation in Singapore which no longer experiences flooding problems due to its well-prepared drainage system.
“Singapore no longer experiences flood problems due to its very good drainage system. Singapore and Johor are nearby, but Singapore is not affected by floods while Johor is affected,” he had said during a press conference after launching the Sarawak Women’s Day 2023 celebration at Penview Convention Centre (PCC) Demak, Kuching on Saturday (March 18).
I understand that some people especially those who are affected by the flood incidents may be impatient, it is only natural to want and to see immediate solutions to problems.
However, I agree with the Premier when he asked the people in Sarawak not to have high hopes that solutions from the comprehensive study could be implemented immediately as the plan involves a lot of costs and aspects to be evaluated.
“I may no longer be the Premier when it is implemented later because our state is very big. However, if it is implemented, it will certainly be done in Kuching first then other places such as Sibu, Miri, Sri Aman, and others,” Abang Johari said.
I think it is equally important to realise that the people play a crucial role in the efforts to prevent or minimise the occurrence of flash floods incidents.
Oftentimes, garbage that is not properly disposed enters drainage systems and clogs drains.
This obstructs the free flow of the water that enters these drains causing water to back up during rainfall flooding the surrounding area.
Similar to doing our parts in helping the environment through practicing reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R), ensuring that our garbage is properly disposed of can go a long way too.
This will help to keep Mother Nature away from soil, water, and air pollution as well as facilitate the local councils’ job.
