Kuching: Residents of the Stampin Resettlement Scheme have continued to suffer from poor drainage conditions for more than 30 years, raising serious concerns over prolonged neglect and the lack of proper infrastructure development in the area.
According to Special Assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, Michael Kong Feng Nian, the situation has become increasingly unacceptable as residents continue to endure flooding and poor living conditions decades after the settlement was established.
“Despite being an established residential settlement, many parts of the area still rely on shallow earth drains, which have become heavily silted over the years due to poor maintenance and the absence of regular clearing works.
“The inadequate drainage system has resulted in persistent problems such as stagnant water ponding, clogged drains, mosquito breeding, and frequent flash floods during heavy rain, posing serious health and environmental risks to residents,” he said.
Kong emphasised that one of the long-standing issues highlighted is the water ponding along Jalan Stutong Baru near Lorong 29, which residents say has remained unresolved for years.
The situation is seen as a clear reflection of poor planning and the failure to implement a proper drainage system from the beginning.
“What is even more alarming is that MBKS itself has acknowledged that the entire Stampin Resettlement Scheme does not have a proper drainage infrastructure and that most of the drains in the area are still earth drains,” he said .
He added that many residents experience flooding inside their homes whenever there is heavy rain due to the inadequate drainage capacity in the area.
Kong also pointed out that even the government health clinic located at Lorong 2 reportedly experiences flooding on a regular basis.
He stressed that a comprehensive redevelopment and upgrading plan for the entire drainage system in the Stampin Resettlement Scheme is urgently needed.
“The authorities must seriously and quickly construct a proper concrete-oriented drainage system throughout the area to effectively address the long-standing flooding and drainage issues once and for all,” he said.
Kong further urged the relevant authorities and the state government to stop ignoring the plight of residents, saying there can no longer be excuses or delays after more than three decades.
“The people of Stampin Resettlement Scheme deserve far better. They deserve proper infrastructure, proper drainage, and a safe living environment just like residents in other parts of the city,” he added.
