Chan visited the Likas floodgate and pump house on Saturday.
KOTA KINABALU: Friday’s flash floods could have been prevented with a properly functioning floodgate and pump.
Kota Kinabalu member of parliament Chan Foong Hin asked the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) had to confirm if the floodgate and pump in Likas were properly maintained and properly functioning during the floods.
“Even though heavy downpour occurred during high tide could be the reason which contributed to the recent flash flood, it could have been mitigated with a properly functioning floodgate and pump,” said Chan who visited the Likas flood gate and pump house on Saturday.
The flood gate and pump house was built and operated by the DID since 1988, and which function is to drain flood waters away from the Likas basin.
The flood gate keeps waters out during high tide. The pump house pumps flood water out into the Likas lagoon.
“Can the DID confirm whether there are any issues of overcapacity as far as flood mitigation is concerned, and would they agree that additional pumps or upgrades are required to compliment this 35-year-old facility so as to properly mitigate flood?
“What were the fundings related to Likas basin under Kota Kinabalu City Drainage Masterplan Study, and are they sufficient for the purposes of flood mitigation?” he asked in a statement on Saturday.
Friday’s flash floods had hit Likas area. Many sections of Jalan Tuaran, Jalan Teluk Likas and Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens main roads were reported flooded, with motorists stuck in jams that built up after office hours.
Most residents affected by the flash floods in this area, said such floods were never seen in their locality before.
Another area badly hit by the flash flood was Kolombong.
“Even though it’s not part of my constituency, many of KK constituents have been operating businesses there for decades. Kolombong is important to the state capital’s gross domestic product (GDP) as it is an established light industrial zone.
“I had visited a few factories there this morning. They said water level had risen up to knee and only receded slowly around 11.30pm last night (Friday). According to them, this is the most severe flash flood encountered up to date, not to mention the losses incurred,” said Chan.
He said the business community there strongly asked for implementation of tidal-control strategies in the area to minimise the incidence of flash flood there, just like what Likas has.
They also recommend that the authorities should weigh up whether the capacity of the existing drains there is sufficient.
“I hereby urge the authorities, especially DID, to listen to the people and come up with proper plans and allocate sufficient funds for flood mitigation,” said Chan.