KOTA KINABALU: Warisan leaders have voiced frustration at the slow response of the authorities in dealing with floods and landslides that have cut off parts of Penampang in recent days.
In a joint statement, Warisan vice-president and former Moyog assemblyman Terence Siambun and Penampang Warisan chief Jeffrey Leiking said residents are anxious as roads and villages remain cut off while the government has yet to present a clear response plan.
They said recurring floods in Moyog show that no lessons have been learned from past disasters, questioning whether the District Disaster Management Committee has a proper preparedness plan or exists only on paper.
The leaders noted that residents rely more on social media for updates on road closures and relief centres than on official government channels, arguing that a 24-hour disaster control centre with a hotline should have been set up long ago.
They expressed appreciation to Fire and Rescue personnel, the Civil Defence Force, volunteers and NGOs who have come forward to assist victims, describing this as the true spirit of Sabahans helping one another in times of need.
The leaders also highlighted the tragic case of a 97-year-old man who died in Kampung Sarapung and recalled the sacrifice of the late Monica Ting, who drowned last year while helping flood victims, as reminders that disasters are matters of life and death.
They urged the government to draw up data-based disaster action plans, review drainage maintenance contracts transparently, and conduct regular drills, warning that systemic administrative failures are turning natural disasters into human tragedies.
