Netherlands offers expertise to help Sarawak tackle floods

KUCHING (Jan 28): The Netherlands has expressed its readiness to share its extensive expertise and experience in water management to help Sarawak address increasingly serious flooding issues exacerbated by climate change.

Dutch Ambassador to Malaysia, Jacques Warner, said the matter was discussed during his courtesy call on Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, with strong emphasis on potential cooperation in water management.

He said the Netherlands is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on water cooperation with the Malaysian federal government in the near future and proposed that a similar scope of collaboration be extended to include the Sarawak government.

“Over hundreds of years, we have developed various solutions that have given us deep experience and knowledge in water management issues,” he said, according to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report.

“Our knowledge and expertise, as well as goods and services are something we would like to share with Sarawak in the future to help reduce the risks and impacts of flooding,” he added.

Warner told reporters this after the courtesy visit at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.

He noted that Sarawak has experienced serious flooding incidents in recent years, including in Bintulu, Sibu, and several other areas.

He said these developments underscore the need for a more comprehensive, long-term approach to flood mitigation, adding that climate change is expected to further worsen the situation.

On his visit to Sarawak, Warner said the entourage also included representatives from several Dutch companies interested in contributing to Sarawak’s vision of building more airports and modernising existing facilities.

“We have several Dutch companies that are keen to contribute towards achieving these objectives,” he said.