SIBU: Dudong assemblyman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has urged the authorities to present a comprehensive action plan and take immediate steps to ensure a stable water supply and effective flood mitigation.
During the Sibu Division Development Committee (DDC) meeting, Tiong said residents continue to suffer from prolonged water supply disruptions and recurring floods due to the lack of a definitive solution.
He dismissed the notion that Sibu’s geography was to blame, insisting that the issue stemmed from inadequate drainage.
“The floods have persisted for decades, causing losses to the people. How long will we allow this to continue?
“Sibu is not a swamp. I grew up here, and I know the real situation.
“The town appears to be a swamp simply because water cannot be drained out due to the lack of a proper drainage system,” he said in a Facebook post.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) minister also raised concerns over the RM15 million allocation for deepening the Sungai Seduan estuary.
He lamented that large portions of the river remain clogged with silt and vegetation.
“Is RM15 million enough to solve all the problems? If only the estuary is deepened, what about other sections of the river?
“Water will still be unable to flow out efficiently, and flooding will persist,” he added.
Tiong stressed the need for a holistic approach rather than piecemeal solutions.
“Every time it rains, even slightly, Sibu floods. Residents in Sentosa live with their houses submerged every time this happens,” he said.
On the water supply issue, Tiong noted that residents in Ulu Durin, Jalan KJD, Batu Wong, Sungai Pak, and Sungai Ronggan have faced inconsistent supply since 2022, with some areas going months without water.
He questioned the response from Sibu Water Board (SWB) and the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB), asking for a clear strategy to resolve the issue.
“Pipes have been installed, yet water is still not flowing. I have been informed that the water pressure is insufficient, and if forced, the pipes could burst.
“Delivering water via tankers is not a sustainable solution when the infrastructure is already in place,” he said.
