Authorities urged to clear drains along Jalan Stutong to prevent flash floods

KUCHING (Feb 6): The relevant authorities are urged to clear the drain along Jalan Stutong here to prevent flash floods, as it has become overgrown with weeds.

Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant, Michael Kong, said the stretch of drain had become overgrown largely due to siltation flowing from higher ground.

“This buildup has obstructed proper water flow and significantly increased the risk of flash floods. We have already seen recent incidents whereby during prolonged rainfall, the drains were unable to cope and water overflowed onto the road.

“This resulted in water ponding on the roadway, creating extremely dangerous conditions for motorists, particularly along a stretch of road that has already recorded numerous accidents,” he said in a statement on Friday.

Stressing that the situation should not be taken lightly, Kong said poorly maintained drains pose a serious public safety risk.

He called for timely and regular maintenance.

Kong claimed that members of the public had raised the matter with the authorities but that no action had been taken so far.

He said this was when they turned to the Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak in the hope of seeing the relevant authorities take immediate action.

“I urge the relevant authorities to take decisive action to clear the drains and properly address the siltation problem so that the drainage system can function effectively.

“Preventive maintenance is critical, especially in light of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns,” added Kong.