Residents listen attentively during the dialogue session.

BINTULU (Jan 13): The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Bintulu and residents of Taman Jason held a dialogue session at the department’s office yesterday.

Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang said a team from his service centre was also present during the meeting to record feedback and suggestions raised, which would be submitted to him as a detailed report.

“During the session, DID Bintulu explained the recent flooding in the area was caused by a combination of factors such as heavy rainfall within a short period, tidal influence at the river mouth, and runoff from upstream areas flowing into low-lying zones—which led to drainage congestion,” he said.

During the session, Pang said residents put forward several constructive proposals to mitigate future flooding, including comprehensive drainage planning for the entire residential area, upgrading and improving the silted drain system, and converting abandoned septic tanks to strengthen overall drainage capacity.

“Constructive communication and face-to-face dialogue are far more effective than confrontation, as such engagement platforms allow residents to share their real experiences while enabling relevant agencies to gain a clearer understanding of ground conditions and develop more practical and targeted solutions,” he said.

He said the Premier’s political secretary Angellie Stephen Raja has been tasked with submitting an application for emergency funding to the State Disaster Management Committee to expedite immediate mitigation measures.

“These include accelerating works at silt-prone hotspots along the Sebiew River, carrying out emergency dredging at the river mouth, and easing recurring flood problems affecting Taman Jason, Taman Jin, and the Bukit Orang area.”

Pang also suggested the relevant agencies consider renting amphibious long-arm excavators, saying that their high mobility and suitability for small-scale operations could improve the efficiency of dredging works.

“Flood mitigation is not something that can be resolved overnight, but with the willingness to reform and take action, improvements can be achieved step by step,” he said.