THE State Government has been urged to give serious attention and take immediate action on the delay in the payment of allowances for Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) chairmen which is happening quite often and to the extent of up to five or six months.
This was raised by Lumadan Assemblyman, Haji Ruslan Muharam saying he often received complaints from the JPKK chairmen of 81 villages in Lumadan.
“These JPKK chairmen complained that their allowances are often delayed, some for up to five to six months. They are the backbone of any state constituency. They perform their duties with full integrity, however, it seems that their welfare is not looked after. I see the persistence and seriousness of JPKK chairmen in my constituency, therefore I appeal and request that the Government take this matter seriously.
“Imagine if this situation happened to us? The JPKK chairmen also have responsibilities and commitments. Therefore, I request that the Government take action on this matter,” he said when debating during the State Assembly sitting.
Ruslan also suggested that the government establish a Community Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS Komuniti) to assist the Beaufort District Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB).
“Beaufort is often severely hit by floods, especially Lumadan. When it rains for a few days, surely it will be flooded and many villages would be affected.
“These villages are far from the existing PPS, while the lack of personnel and machinery to help evacuate the flood-affected villagers caused the process of rescuing and evacuating them to the existing temporary shelters taking a long time.
“Therefore, I propose that PPS Komuniti in the existing halls be established in the Lumadan DUN for some villages that are often disconnected by flood water like Kampung Lumadan, Kampung Suasa, Kampung Bukau and Kampung Bangkalalak,” he said.
He also thanked the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) for carrying out clean up Sungai Api-Api, Kg Tamalang along Bukau and other areas last year.
“This effort has had a positive effect where the flood water recedes faster and helps smoothen the flow of flood water in areas that are often affected in 2021.
“In the meantime, I request that the cleaning of the Api-Api River be continued from the one that has been cleaned, which is 7km. The drainage system in this river and other rivers also needs to be maintained at least once a year to reduce the effects of floods,” he said.
He also suggested that another diversion be built to reduce flood problems, for example from the Suasa-Nabahan Canal to the Mambangan River directly to the seabed.
“The construction length of this diversion is six kilometres. With this initiative, it will reduce the risk of floods and the construction period is about 1-2 years with a low rate, “he said.
He also highlighted the position of the road in Lumadan which has been built close to the Padas River.
“River erosion has resulted in the main road getting closer to the river and some are almost cut off and dangerous when floods occur.
“Therefore, there is an urgent need for the construction of erosion-resistant walls or gabions to be implemented.
“I hope the construction of gabions for Sungai Padas in Lumadan can be expedited,” he said.