KOTA KINABALU: Recent flash floods in Penampang have drawn criticism from an opposition leader targeting Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe for prematurely claiming that the Lido Flood Mitigation Plan would resolve the area’s flood issues.
Penampang Warisan division leader and political secretary to the party’s deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking, Pritchard Gumbaris, said the latest flood incidents prove the mitigation plan has not yet fully addressed the problem.
“Phoong, who also serves as Sabah DAP chief, should not have been overly confident in declaring the issue resolved, particularly after flash floods hit KK High School and the Lido area on Tuesday (Jan 14) following an hour of heavy rainfall,” he said.
Gumbaris noted that the incident mirrors the flooding that occurred in November last year, and even if the mitigation plan had been fully implemented, claiming its success would still be premature.
“Continuous monitoring and timely enhancements are essential to ensure the plan’s long-term effectiveness,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 15).
He suggested that recurring floods might stem from the haste of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Pakatan Harapan coalitions to showcase rapid development in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang, potentially overlooking key flood mitigation measures in approved projects.
“This is not the first time flooding has occurred in Penampang, nor the first time GRS and Pakatan have given assurances about flood mitigation efforts.
"The real question now is, why aren’t the monsoon drains, locally known as Parit Juta, being cleaned regularly?”
Gumbaris called for a review of contracts awarded to contractors responsible for maintaining these drains, noting that Warisan’s assemblymen would raise this pressing issue in the upcoming state legislative assembly session, as it concerns public safety and requires immediate attention.
He also highlighted another concern involving precast concrete blocks and piles of soil left for months along a pedestrian walkway near the Donggongon PETRONAS station.
“Several residents have complained that these unsightly concrete blocks and heaps of soil could easily be washed into the monsoon drains, causing blockages. If that happens, it could lead to serious flooding in Donggongon Town,” he said.
Gumbaris expressed surprise that the Penampang DAP branch office and GRS’ Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) headquarters, situated directly across from the drain, seemed unaware of the issue.
“As part of the ruling government, they should have taken steps to clear the area," he said, urging GRS and Pakatan representatives in the Penampang District Action Committee and councillors of the Penampang Municipal Council to inspect drainage systems across the district.
He noted that Penampang Warisan, through its District Monitoring Unit, had engaged with the Penampang Municipal Council and relevant ministries to develop a blueprint for addressing the area’s flood problems.
“However, for this blueprint to succeed, we need to be part of the government, as its implementation requires coordination and teamwork with state agencies,” Gumbaris said.
