PENAMPANG: Ikatan Komuniti Penampang (Ikatan Penampang), a local non-profit community movement, appealed to the State Government to ensure periodical maintenance works on drainage system is being carried out to prevent recurrence of major flooding here.
The movement’s Deputy Chairman Alphonsus Sundangit said they noticed blockages caused by vegetation, debris and rubbish in some part of the drainages surrounding Donggongon town that could prevent smooth flowing of water when it rains heavily, resulting in overflowing.
“We found out last Sunday that stagnant water in the drain fronting New World Commercial Centre, Donggongon, may be caused by a blockage at a section near the Sigah Roundabout.
“This (blockage) could be the reason why this roundabout is always experiencing flash flood, causing much trouble to the Penampang folks,” he said in a statement, Monday.
Alphonsus, who is also former Kampung Dabak MPKK Chairman, pointed out that overflowing water from Moyog River will enter Kampung Sapou/Pogun Dabak through Kampung Penampang Proper and subsequently will flow out to the monsoon drain along the Jalan KK-Tambunan Highway.
“We do not really know where the water from this monsoon drain should continue its flow but our guess is that it must be to the drain behind Kampung Tunoh.
“But since it looks like there is a blockage in this drain (right underneath the roundabout), perhaps this could be the reason why this area is always flooded whenever it rains heavily – water from the drain along Kg Sapou/Pogun Dabak cannot flow efficiently to the drain at Kampung Tunoh.
“We are only lay people and have no expertise in the subject of geology, so we hope the Government will send their experts to investigate the matter for the benefit of Penampang folks that use this roundabout.”
Meanwhile, Ikatan Penampang Chairman Kenneth Jayaraman said that as the State enters into the second half of this year, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor should instruct the State Government to be prepared for any possibility of major flooding in the district.
“It is now July and as we are fast approaching the anniversary of the September 15 mud-flood tragedy at Kampung Sugud, the State Government should be in a state of alertness and preparedness for any possibility of flash flood,” he said.
Firstly, he said, by ensuring that all drainage system in the district particularly at Sigah, Bundusan and Kibabaig/Minintod Road are being cleared from debris, rubbish or vegetation and, if necessary, being deepened.
Secondly, the Chief Minister should also instruct the deployment of government assets such as life-saving boats, excavators and so on to the relevant authorities here so it will be ready at all times. These assets are crucial to prevent loss of lives and the State Government must not wait until flooding occurs to effect the deployment.
Thirdly, the State Government should secure from the Federal Government flood assistance packages to the Sabahans affected by major flooding in view that such assistance would always be announced within 36 to 48 hours by the relevant State governments in the peninsula.
“Our Sabah Cabinet must not wait until the Prime Minister or any senior Federal Minister to come and visit affected villagers a week after major flooding.”
Kenneth also said the movement would be monitoring the situation here, especially in Kapayan that is at higher risk of flooding due to blockage of drainage system.
“Ikatan Penampang will be monitoring this matter closely and since we do not really know which drainage systems especially those at housing and commercial estates at Kapayan that have yet to be cleaned up, I will be visiting some of these neighbourhoods and get the residents’ feedback on the matter.
“Due to the unregulated hill-cutting and clearing in Penampang the past decades, annual flooding is now a sure thing in the district – the only question is whether it will be a minor flooding or a major one,” he said.
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