Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan proposed setting up a coordinating committee to help communities have their voices heard on issues on the impact of development projects on their lives.
The proposed committee would consist relevant government departments and agencies as well as project contractors, he said after meeting community leaders of Kg Kolopis here who came to seek his help regarding the worsening flood situation in their village.
He said the low-lying area of Kg Kolopis is no stranger to floods but villagers say the problem has worsened ever since the start of the Pan Borneo Highway project that cuts across their village.
“I will bring this up to the Cabinet so there there’ll be a discussion. I suggest there be a coordinating committee on the Pan Borneo Highway project where it passes villages.
“I feel the frustration of the community (Kg Kolopis),” he said.
Jeffrey also said he would help them by communicating with the Public Works Department (PWD) and the project contractor.
“We want to help them by writing a letter to PWD and the contractor,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that there are no shortcuts to mitigate floods in the district which requires huge amount of resources and time.
However, Jeffrey assured that the Federal Government has agreed to give off-budget allocations for packages two and four amounting to RM408 million next year.
He also acknowledged that the flood problem in Sabah has been made worse by the changing and rising sea tide as a result of climate change.
Meanwhile, spokesman for the Kg Kolopis community leaders Dato Seri Dr Adalbert Kinson said they were pleased with Jeffrey’s proposal and intervention.
“For a long time, we just did not know where to turn to. We’d tried to get to PWD but, so far, no action has been taken on their part.
So, when Jeffrey assured us that he would communicate with the parties concerned, to me, it’s the kind of action we were hoping for.
“We also appreciate that he come to our village to see how our lives were impacted by the worsening flood situation since the project came to our village,” he said.
According to him, the purpose of the meeting with Jeffrey was to highlight the worsening flood problem they have been facing and also to incorporate their suggestions on how to minimise its impact in the government’s flood mitigation plan.
Dr Adalbert said ever since the start of the highway project, flood takes days to recede unlike before when it only took a few hours.
The meeting between the community and Jeffrey was joined by Star Penampang parliamentary coordinator Kenny Chua, Sabah DID deputy director Siraja Bashora and Irene Chu from DID Penampang.
— EDITOR
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