KOTA KINABALU: Following the 5-hour incessant rainfall on Wednesday which caused flash flooding in several areas in the city and its suburbs and wreaking havoc on houseowners and road users, Kapayan assemblyman, Dr Edwin Bosi, is once again calling on the government to undertake a comprehensive study and put into place mitigative measures to resolve this perennial flash flooding problem.
“We must be thankful for ‘Whatsapp’ (a smartphone application) for disseminating news and pictures of the flash floods in real time to the people at large,” Dr Bosi said.
There were many reports of flooding occurring in Inanam, Kapayan, Moyog, including areas near UMS just to name a few. Many houses were affected by the sudden flash floods resulting in loss of furnitures and personal effects and generally causing hardship to the people.
Dr Bosi, who is DAP Sabah secretary, said he took a quick tour of the Kapayan area and saw several flooded areas and roads which had caused vehicles to become stationary leading to massive jams.
“During my quick tour, I noticed that the excess water is drained faster in the concrete drains than in the open drains. The bigger monsoon drains too were quite effective in dispersing the water. I am sure the government can learn from this observation,” Dr Bosi remarked.
“The government should, in future, construct concrete drains that are connected to the larger monsoon drains. Needless to say, these distributary drains must be free from clogging of any kind.
“I have on several occasions raised this matter (drainage system) with the government, especially in Kapayan, in every State Assembly sittings,” he said.
Dr Bosi said hill cutting are now quite rampant in Penampang and during the rainy seasons the adverse impact of these hill cutting could be seen.
“Tons of soils would be washed down affecting houses, roads and also rivers. Three cases have recently been brought to my attention.
“One case at Lorong Hiburan Phase 4A, Taman Sindo, which I have gone to see, is where the houses fronting the cut hill are now inundated with reddish soil and water.
“For Rosalind, a resident, she lost several electrical appliances, such as washing machine, and carpets.
“The other case is at Kg. Kibabaig where the SPCA’s dog kennels, catteries, food store and workers’ house were severely inundated with thick mud flowing down from the hill during a rainfall,” Dr Bosi said.
“There must be clear cut rules and regulations on hill cutting. For every hill cutting activity, a prominent notice must be erected to inform the public that a permit to undertake such activity has been obtained from the relevant authority.
“The government departments that are responsible must not wait for complaints to arrive but rather to be proactive and check out the site, including the contractor, before allowing work to commence. Those carrying out such activity without a permit must be quickly brought to book.
“This is also necessary to clear the names of the departments and officers concerned in view of strong public’s perception that these officers are on the take.
“I have suggested to Rosalind and the others affected by the mud slide to make a police report. It is the same with the SPCA. The authority must realise that such incidents can also happen to them and as such, cases like this must be quickly dealt with according to the law.
“We must give a clear signal to any contractors that are involved in hill cutting without a permit that it is an unacceptable activity and a crime,” Dr Bosi stressed.