Lee Kim Shi Inspects Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu Floods, Emphasizes Man-made Causes of Flooding

(Miri, 7th) Recent severe flooding occurred in Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu. This morning, Sarawak Minister of Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, accompanied by officials from the Miri Land and Survey Department, the Miri Public Works Department, and the City Council, visited the site for inspection. He emphasized that the cause of the flooding was not due to the village itself but was a result of man-made factors.

It is understood that about 30 local residents spontaneously acted to clean drainages blocked by silt and garbage and discovered that developers allegedly blocked a natural drainage outlet for construction, causing water to be unable to flow out normally. Lee Kim Shin stated that the Land and Survey Department will contact the developers and require them to comply with regulations, prohibiting unauthorized blocking of drainage systems.

He pointed out that the drainage problem in Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu is not an issue caused by villagers but because developers obstructed the natural drainage passage. The area's drainage system has undergone improvement projects by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and has not experienced severe flooding in the past ten years. Now that the problem has reappeared, it requires thorough investigation.

In addition, similar situations also occurred in Snatin and Permy areas, where some residents complained about garbage blocking drainage outlets and causing severe road flooding. Even though there has been no rainfall in the past two days, drainage levels remain high, indicating a potential blockage problem in the drainage system.

Lee Kim Shin has instructed relevant units to immediately investigate the drainage system issues and ensure unblocked waterways to prevent future flooding.

To further address drainage blockage issues, Lee Kim Shin requested the Miri City Council to install large garbage bins so that residents can properly dispose of waste, preventing debris from entering the drainage system. He also appealed to residents to cooperate by disposing of garbage in bins instead of littering, to avoid aggravating the drainage system's blockage issues.

During the inspection, he also expressed gratitude to volunteer teams from Kampung Pujut Tanjung Batu and Snatin for their assistance. Volunteers actively helped in clearing the drainage system, restoring smooth water flow.

Relevant government departments will continue to monitor and call on developers to cooperate in resolving the drainage issues to avoid disrupting residents' daily lives.