Jeffrey Kitingan
KOTA KINABALU: The government has asked for a full report on the flood in Kota Kinabalu and the surrounding districts on Friday, including the drainage conditions in other flood-prone areas.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan said he had already requested a briefing from the Drainage and Irrigation Department director and how the department could minimise the occurrences of future floods.
“I am concerned about the drainage system, especially within the city limit. Sometimes, the drainage is poorly maintained, and there is too much rubbish thrown into the drain.
“I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that we all avoid this bad habit of throwing trash down the drain. At the same time, the director must ensure that the department or those contracted to clean the drains carry out their jobs properly,” he said.
Kitingan, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, advised the people to be more vigilant because the weather is unpredictable and extreme rainfalls are occurring more frequently.
He also suggested a need for a more effective flood forecasting system that could provide early flood warnings to the public, giving them more time to prepare or evacuate and potentially saving lives and property.
The flood on Friday occurred following a heavy downpour that lasted more than eight hours and coincided with high tide.
“Unfortunately, there is no quick solution to the flood at the moment. We can only find ways to minimise it while we work towards building the Likas Barrage.
“High tides prevent water from flowing into the sea, resulting in inland flooding, as happened on Friday,” he said.
The Likas Barrage is part of the Flood Mitigation Masterplan for Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan and could cost up to RM800 million.