MIRI: Within a few hours, this year will end and we will be into 2019. Before that happens, let’s do some quick recap of various happengings in this city and Miri Division as a whole.
Let’s start off with floods as several low-lying areas got inundated every time it rained. This also happened to some areas in the interior such as Baram and Bakong.
The worst flood occurred early this month following a non-stop downpour. Several areas especially along Jalan Raja were flooded for the first time, thus shocking many of the city dwellers. The knee-deep flood brought traffic to a standstill.
This year, Miri recorded at least three major flash floods – one each in February, August and this month.
The February flood temporarily closed a primary school, while in August the flood covered several roads and residential areas.
When it was not raining, Miri suffered hot and dry weather. On certain days in July, temperatures went up to 35 degrees Celsius.
In October, what was dubbed the “Neon Beer Festival 2018” controversy rubbed local Muslims the wrong way. They were displeased with the word “Beer” used in promoting festival saying it was inappropriate.
Police reports were lodged by Islamic non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which charged that it was a ploy to encourage Muslims to attend the festival.
Fortunately, no untoward incident happened during the four-day event which kicked off on October 11.
The controversy was resolved by putting up a notice warning Muslims not to enter the festival venue as requested by the NGOs.
On July 25, the death of a 25-year-old female primary school teacher, Catherine Janet Tiwi, in a fire at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Batu Bungan, Mulu stunned everyone. The fire which razed her quarters also injured two other persons.
In the field of law enforcement, there has been some success. On December 1, the General Operations Force (GOF) seized 5,856 sacks of rice valued at RM623,880 during an operation at a warehouse.
Miri GOF commanding officer, Supt Tan Hiap Seng, described the seizure as the biggest so far in the district.
About 100 tonnes of rice were smuggled into the warehouse every month prior to the raid.
The city police also had some measure of success when they arrested 25 individuals over the past two months (since October) in connection with several crimes including housebreaking. With these arrests, 80 cases were solved.
Among those arrested were eight persons suspected of breaking into Piasau assemblyman, Datuk Sebastian Ting’s house at Tanjong Lobang in the middle of this month. The arrests were made less than 48 hours after the crimes were committed.
