SIBU: Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has called on the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) to take decisive action and solve flash flooding that has plagued Kg. Usahajaya Baru for years.
“SMC should keep in mind that its responsibility is to serve the people, and to stop deceiving the people with the excuse that there is no funding. It is the job of the council to solve the problem of funding.
“If the funding is insufficient, then you must apply for funding from the local government to solve the problem for the people, instead of using the same tired excuse for inaction and letting the local residents live in destitute every day,” he said.
Tiong noted that the residents of the area were inundated with grievances and frustration, likening their plight to that of forsaken children.
With every rainfall, their homes would swiftly succumb to flooding, subjecting them to a perpetual state of anxiety and apprehension.
“I would like to ask, this village is right on the roadside. Maintenance and improvement works can be carried out. At least we should cooperate with the Public Works Department (PWD) or the Department of Drainage and Irrigation (DID) to dig deep trenches to achieve the effect of dredging and draining floods.
“At the same time, increase the height of the road in order to reduce the flooding on the roads as an immediate solution. Why can’t SMC do anything for the people after several years while watching the people suffer sleepless nights,” he added.
This issue was raised by residents of Kg. Usahajaya Baru to Tiong during his recent visit to Lorong 4 Sentosa Timur, highlighting the longstanding issue of flooding in their village.
Tiong emphasised that the community has been grappling with this problem for years, predating his tenure as Dudong state assemblyman.
Despite his repeated calls for action prior to his election, he expressed disappointment over the lack of response from the SMC.
“The attitude of ignoring and ignorance is really bad and unacceptable,” he said.
