Jeffrey Kitingan
KOTA KINABALU: The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is set to begin preliminary works on the flood mitigation project for Kota Kinabalu this year, with construction scheduled to begin next year.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan said the Economic Planning Unit approved the project in the fourth rolling plan of the 11th Malaysia Plan.
“The goal of this project in Kota Kinabalu is to improve the drainage system in Basin 8, which includes the Damai and Dah Yeh Villa areas.
“Preliminary works, including soil investigation and topographic survey, will be carried out this year. The procurement for this flood mitigation project is scheduled to be carried out next year,” he said in a statement here on Tuesday.
Kitingan, the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, said frequent flooding had been a long-standing issue in Kolombong, Inanam, Likas and the surrounding areas.
Therefore, he said the DID has proposed conducting a study to develop a plan for the barrage-pump system, covering two main river catchments with a total area of 50.3 km covering Likas and Darau.
The system is crucial since much of the area is coastal bound, low-lying and susceptible to flooding, especially when a rainstorm event coincides with high tide.
Moreover, this mitigation measure is unavoidable due to the sea level rise and changes in temporal pattern.
It is high time to explore and start planning for such a mitigation method due to its proven efficiency in many urban places against flood damage.
“As for Lido area, the DID has appointed a consultant to finalise the design for the flood mitigation project.
But, unfortunately, the project has been pushed back partly due to the Movement Control Order.
“However, the procurement for this project could likely be carried out by the end of this year, and I expect the construction work to start by the middle of next year,” he said.
Former Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Junz Wong has urged Kitingan to update on the progress of the flood mitigation action plan involving flood-prone areas like Likas and Lido.
Junz said the plan was supposed to be carried out this year.
He said during his tenure as a minister handling the DID, he had completed a flood mitigation design and action plans for both Likas and Lido, and asked why haven’t any projects been carried out yet.