Pang (right) engaging in key discussions during a recent meeting.

BINTULU (July 31): Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang has called for both immediate and long-term measures to address recurring flooding issues affecting Taman Ing Ling and the Kozai residential area.

He said his service team recently held a coordination meeting with representatives from the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to discuss practical solutions to the persistent problem.

Pang said he and his team had also conducted several site visits together with the relevant agencies to better understand the terrain, existing drainage network and challenges faced by residents.

“Following the discussion, several improvement measures have been identified, including the construction of a diversion system at the hilltop to redirect rainwater to an alternative drainage route, as well as the construction of additional drains at the foothill to reduce pressure on the existing drainage network.

“For the road in front of SJK Siong Boon, which frequently experiences water accumulation during heavy rain, I have requested the relevant authorities to implement temporary drainage measures by diverting rainwater into a nearby pond to reduce flooding during heavy rainfall,” he said.

He stressed that while the proposed measures would help alleviate the issue in the short term but emphasised that a more comprehensive solution was needed to permanently resolve the issue.

“In the long term, I hope BDA will require the developer to construct a detention pond to improve the overall flood mitigation capacity of the residential area,” he said.

Pang added that future residential and commercial developments should not only comply with approved plans but also ensure proper implementation of essential infrastructure such as drainage systems, detention ponds, roads and street lighting.

He also called for stronger site monitoring and technical assessments to ensure development projects meet the actual needs of surrounding communities and prevent similar flooding concerns from recurring.