Kota Kinabalu: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud wants answers from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage for the severe flooding in Manggatal-Rampayan on Saturday, despite a RM36 million flood mitigation project being 95 per cent complete.
“I personally inspected the Manggatal-Rampayan river this (Sunday) morning and found it can be crossed on foot. Not only is the riverbed shallow and narrow, but many houses have also been built along both banks,” he said when met during a Christmas Open House at Dewan Kampung Sukang Mabpai in Bukit Padang.
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The Sepanggar MP expressed concern that flooding this year was more severe than in previous years, despite the near-completion of the first phase of flood control project.
He wants to know why the infrastructure failed to prevent the latest flooding.
“I need to understand what problems the nearly completed first-phase project is facing and why the flooding this time is worse than previous years,” Mustapha said.
He noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, has approved the second phase of the Rampayan flood mitigation project with an allocation of RM39 million.
The works include dredging, deepening and widening the river from Kg Rampayan to the river mouth, with construction expected to begin soon.
Mustapha conducted flood inspections that continued past midnight on Saturday, visiting Taman Wijaya in Manggatal and Taman Megah in Kolombong. Numerous shops in the affected areas sustained flood damage.
He pledged to secure substantial assistance for both flood victims and affected businesses.
“The current priority is to ensure the safety of residents, monitor water levels and coordinate follow-up actions with relevant agencies so that assistance can be provided quickly and effectively,” he said.
Some affected residents have been relocated to temporary evacuation centres. Mustapha reminded unregistered victims to report to the police and register with the Welfare Department to enable the government to aid them through proper procedures.
He urged Sepanggar residents to remain vigilant and follow instructions from authorities, advising them to move to safe locations immediately if conditions deteriorate.
Mustapha also expressed gratitude to frontliners, volunteers and agencies working around the clock during the emergency response.
