Zero tolerance: Bintulu MP condemns contractors for flash floods triggered by project negligence

Tiong in a meeting with relevant departments in Bintulu on Jan 19, 2024. Photo credit: Dato' Seri Tiong King Sing （拿督斯里张庆信) Facebook

KUCHING, Jan 20: Bintulu Member of Parliament (MP) Dato Seri Tiong King Sing has condemned contractors and companies for implementing projects without meticulous attention to details and proper housekeeping as this negligence has led to flash floods in various Bintulu areas, which could have been avoided.

Sharing his dismay on social media yesterday (Jan 19), Tiong highlighted that flood issues often arise when drainage systems fail to function adequately and are constructed too shallow to handle the heavy flow of water during downpours.

This oversight results in losses for residents and puts emotional pressure on the affected communities.

“And the government has to repeatedly clean the debris left by irresponsible contractors.

“In a series of previous meetings, I have strongly opposed the execution of such projects with flawed flood control designs and done in a haste without careful planning.

“The flood control and drainage designed by the contractor company is not perfect and has not gone through a thorough study to the extend of causing this kind of disaster. I am disappointed,” he expressed.

Despite progress in flood mitigation projects in many areas of Bintulu over the past few years, Tiong, who is also the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, noted that flash flooding issues persist on Jalan Sibu due to the negligence of contractors.

He criticised the contractors for not feeling guilty and continuing to display pride in their professionalism, even when their designs prove inadequate during repeated flash floods.
“Now, when flash floods repeat and the anger of the residents peaks, they have also disappeared. Is this professionalism?,” he questioned.

Tiong, also the Dudong assemblyman, urged the Sarawak government to hold contractor companies accountable for their projects to safeguard both the people and the government from the consequences of their negligence.

He stressed that contractors undertaking public projects should also respect the opinions and views of elected representatives and not only think they are the ‘professional’.

Highlighting a specific issue, Tiong pointed out that the drainage system behind the Boulevard Shopping Mall in Bintulu is incapable of handling sudden rises in water levels, primarily due to the small size of the existing pump station.

To address this, he called on the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to install a larger pump station with at least a one-metre diameter to efficiently channel water to the sea.

With all departments involved will be holding meetings in the near future to address this matter, he reminded them not to take projects, both small and large scale, awarded to private companies lightly.

“Departments must be responsible for supervising and monitoring to prevent contractors from acting ‘freely’ as they please which would ultimately result in defects in the project until the cost doubles unnecessarily, which is clearly a waste of government and people’s money,” he said.– DayakDaily