Kota Kinabalu: All relevant agencies have been asked to submit a list of minor projects that can be implemented immediately to reduce flood risks in flood-prone areas around Kota Kinabalu, particularly in the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud said the measures included river dredging, maintenance of existing drains and the construction of new or alternative drains to address the increasingly frequent occurrence of flash floods.
“The projects are to be submitted to City Hall (DBKK) within two weeks to enable immediate action to be identified and implemented, especially in areas at high risk of flooding,” he said at a press conference after the Kota Kinabalu Disaster Committee’s Special Coordination Meeting at City Hall, here, Wednesday.
Mustapha said the list of projects had been requested within two weeks to enable immediate action to be identified and implemented, particularly in areas at high risk of flooding.
“The increase in floods and landslides around Kota Kinabalu is linked to unpredictable weather conditions and increasingly difficult-to-forecast rainfall patterns. Rainfall is now harder to predict and is increasing, resulting in flash floods,” he said.
He said apart from weather conditions, poor drainage system maintenance and inadequate drain capacity, particularly in older residential areas, had also been identified as contributing factors to flooding.
“The drainage systems in these areas were designed based on the conditions when the residential estates were first developed.
However, changes in development patterns and increased rainfall mean that the existing capacity may no longer be sufficient to accommodate the water flow.
“This has also caused some areas to become waterlogged when surrounding areas are developed at higher elevations.
“For the short term, river dredging and drain maintenance must be carried out immediately, alongside minor projects to improve drainage systems in flood-prone areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mustapha said the Sungai Rampayan Phase 2 flood mitigation project was expected to help reduce flood risks along the river and in other areas sharing the same water flow as a long-term solution.
“Residents, especially those living in flood-prone areas around Kota Kinabalu and the Sepanggar parliamentary constituency, are also advised to remain vigilant and prepare for the Northeast Monsoon. The risk of flooding will persist, and we must be prepared to face this phenomenon,” he added.
