KUCHING: Villagers from Kampung Rantau Panjang want the government to speed up flood mitigation works in their village.
Located beside the Sarawak river at Batu Kawa here, the village was prone to flooding during high tide and heavy rain.
"Every time it rains heavily, there will be floods. The drains are too narrow and the rainwater has nowhere to go," Nora Geli, 49, said when met at the SJK(C) Chung Hua Batu Kawa evacuation centre on Thursday (March 2).
Nora and her family were among 80 villagers taking shelter at the school since the village was flooded on Tuesday (Feb 28) following continuous rain.
"The flood came suddenly this time. Our mattresses and other items were soaked in floodwaters and had to be thrown away.
"We have not bought new cabinets for years because it floods all the time, so we just make them ourselves from wood.
"It's sad to see our things damaged by flood. We don't want to keep asking the government for assistance," Nora said.
She hoped the ongoing retaining wall project at the village would be completed soon and be effective in preventing the recurrence of floods.
According to earlier reports, the project, which included beautification works along the riverfront, was scheduled to be completed in May this year.
Siti Aisah Sauidi, 23, said it was the second time Kampung Rantau Panjang was flooded this year.
"The first was during Chinese New Year when it also rained heavily. This is our third day at the centre after the headman told us to evacuate.
"I hope the government can do something to prevent the frequent flooding in our village," she said.
