KUCHING: Flood mitigation masterplan is not under the purview of local councils, said Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman, Lo Khere Chiang.
Lo stressed that the federal government, particularly its department, Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) is responsible for flood mitigation.
He pointed out that the federal government proposes flood mitigation plans for major drainage to accommodate secondary drains from housing estates, which are maintained by local councils with egregiously insufficient Maris funds provided by the federal government.
This, he added, is done in collaboration with Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) which is under KASA.
“There are 23 local councils in Sarawak, both big and small, and only one DID in Sarawak.
“All councils in Sarawak only take care of secondary drains, and flood mitigation projects involving major drainage reserves are undertaken by the federal DID in consultation with the state DID,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 5).
He was making the remarks in response to Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s call that urged Lo to be more responsive and responsible to flood issues in MPP areas.
On Tuesday during a press conference, Chong said that there is currently no master plan for projects to be carried out in MPP areas to mitigate flood damage.
He asserted that in a previous letter to Lo, he had requested the master plan for the flood mitigation project as well as specific project planning for certain locations within Stampin and Kuching that fall under the purview of the MPP.
As such, Lo asked, “Why come to a local council chairman for masterplans?”
Lo who is also the Batu Kitang assemblyman added that the MPP chairman himself and all other council chairmen have to visit the DID to ask about flood mitigation plans.
“You are the elected parliamentarian for Stampin. Bring up the major flood issues to Parliament and request that the federal government solve our flooding woes.
“So point your guns in the right direction – towards federal and not at Sarawak,” he said.
In response to Chong ridiculing the estimation of RM400 million for the flood mitigation at Quop during the press conference, Lo requested that Chong to solve the said problem for RM200 million or whatever amount he thinks is sufficient.
“I will actually be more than happy for you if you can actually solve the Quop flooding with RM200 million,” said Lo.
Lo then asked Chong to voice out the flood woes in the whole of Quop including Kampung Quop and seek the federal government’s help to resolve these flood woes.
On the same note, Chong, during the said press conference also requested Lo to write to Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ministers and deputy ministers seeking for more funding for Kuching and Stampin areas.
“My question was very specific, which was to ask him to produce copies of the letter from MPP to both the state and federal governments requesting for funding of the said projects, including letters MPP had written to GPS federal ministers and deputy ministers requesting for such funding,” said Chong.
For that, Lo noted that it was astounding to think that Chong needs him to work as a middleman to talk to other ministers, now his colleagues in the unity government.
“As for asking me to approach GPS ministers and deputy ministers or write letters to them on his behalf, that is another ludicrous suggestion,” he said.
“Can he not approach them directly himself? He is a Member of Parliament (MP), a state assemblyman, the DAP state party chief, and a lawyer whose bread and butter is his ability to write letters and talk to people.
“Why does he have to go through me to talk to them or write to them? Chong, stop beating around the bush and get on with your job as a parliamentarian!”
