THE people in Dudong are demanding a master plan for the excavation and dredging of the inland drainage system and a proposal to upgrade the undersized or improperly built drainage.
Its assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said some earth drains should be upgraded into concrete drains while drainages should be widened, deepened, and constructed with a gradient flow from high to low level.
He said there are also a lot of small rivers or streams that have been clogged up by mud, resulting in the water not discharging properly, especially during the heavy downpours.
“Previously, the government had allocated RM10 million in 2021 to survey the Rajang and Igan Rivers. Until today, why isn’t the survey completed?
“If survey in these two rivers is not carried out, we can’t have the data on the river siltation status or the condition in order to properly plan for the design to carry out deepening or dredging for the two rivers,” he said when debating the State Budget 2024 at the state legislative assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
According to Tiong, the flash flood or flood affected area in Sibu, especially in Dudong, has been highlighted for the past two decades.
Apart from that, he said, the grassroots in Dudong are concerned about the ‘unacceptable’ water supply situation occurring in a significantly populated area like Sibujaya.
“The residents there have not been able to receive adequate water pressure especially during the peak periods when everybody is at home for many years,” he said.
Thus, he appealed to the Utility and Telecommunication Ministry to look into redesign of the whole water supply system for the whole of Sibu, including Sibujaya.
He said if the issues affecting the people are left unsolved, they will accuse the government of not caring about the low income group.
“So I would like to appeal that we must not let this issue drag out any further. We must come out with some directions to resolve it,” he stressed.
