Kuching: The Sarawak Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has been urged to implement higher-standard flood mitigation measures and upgrade the major drainage system along Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho following flash floods that struck several parts of the city on Tuesday morning after heavy rainfall.
George Lam, Special Assistant to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, said the road and nearby residential areas were among the hardest hit, noting that the area floods almost every time there is heavy rain.
He said the recurring flooding has significantly affected residents’ daily lives and caused major inconvenience to road users in the city.
“This morning, several vehicles were caught in deep floodwater and stalled because drivers were unable to estimate the water depth, severely disrupting traffic,” he said in a statement.
Lam pointed out that Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho and the area around the Kuching Buddhist Association frequently experience flash floods during heavy rain because the drainage system cannot discharge water quickly enough.
He said one of the key contributing factors is the lack of proper routine maintenance of drainage systems.
According to Lam, traffic police had to clear drainage outlets clogged with rubbish and leaves during the downpour before rainwater could flow out more efficiently.
While acknowledging that DID is currently implementing several flood mitigation projects in Kuching, Lam said the overall progress appears slow, and some flood-prone areas have yet to be included in upgrading plans.
He also noted that flood mitigation works along Sungai Maong Kiri, intended to address flooding at Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho, have yet to begin.
“During the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly sitting in December 2023, Deputy Minister for Housing, Local Government and Public Health Datuk Peguang reportedly said that the RM120.5 million Sungai Maong Kiri flood mitigation project aimed at addressing flash floods in Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho and nearby areas would commence in the second quarter of 2025,” he said.
However, Lam said the project has not yet been tendered.
“This reflects inefficiency in the implementation of a project that directly affects the livelihoods and welfare of residents,” he said.
He said the delay has resulted in residents continuing to face flash floods during the rainy season.
Lam therefore called on DID to immediately disclose the latest progress of the Sungai Maong Kiri flood mitigation project.
In the meantime, he urged the department to appoint contractors to carry out routine drain maintenance to improve drainage capacity during heavy rainfall.
