BINTULU: The Sarawak Government will formulate a long-term plan involving engineering solutions to mitigate matters related to flooding, especially related to drainage systems and infrastructure in affected areas.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said that repair work on roads damaged by floods was not carried out immediately due to concerns about subsequent waves of flooding in the near future.

“We expect there to be a second or third wave until February. If repairs are done now, there is a risk of it being damaged again.

“Therefore, the reconstruction work will be carried out after the monsoon season,” he said at a press conference in conjunction with his visit to the Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) for flood victims at the Bintulu Civic Centre, on Wednesday.

According to Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari, the state government will also look into the issue of river sedimentation and the drainage system, especially in the rapidly developing Bintulu urban area, through discussions and comprehensive planning at the state level and relevant parties such as the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA).

He stressed that housing development must be in line with the master plan to avoid drainage problems and water flow restrictions that can worsen the risk of flooding.

“We will work with the local authorities and developers to reorganise the drainage system to be more coordinated and effective,” he said.

Also present during the visit were Sarawak Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development and Kemena Assemblyman Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development and Samalaju Assemblyman Datuk Majang Renggi, Jepak Assemblyman Iskandar Turkee, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Administration) Datu Felicia Tan Ya Hua, Bintulu Division Resident Datu Nyurak Keti, Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit Director Abdul Wahab Rahim and Bintulu District Officer Awang Mohammed Nizam Awang Ali Bohan. -UKASnews