Sabahans: We have suffered enough

 

KOTA KINABALU: “Enough is enough,” say Sabah’s west-coast residents as they plead for concrete immediate action after being hit by floods for the fourth time in the last month.

After the latest flash floods yesterday, the victims want immediate solutions to be taken to ease their woes, not to wait for mega solutions which the government has promised but said would take time.

Shelter of Hope operator in Kampung Tuavon in Penampang, Adrienne Godfrey Johniu, said she had to temporarily stop rescuing stray cats and dogs due to the continuous floods.

“If possible, we need more help to elevate the floors for the puppies and cats, as well as high platforms to store our pet food,” she said.

Johniu hopes that an immediate solution, even if it is just temporary, can be found to help flood victims in Penampang as “there’s just so much we can handle and cope with”.

Another resident from Kampung Sugud, a village that was worst-hit by last month’s floods, said they had not even finished cleaning the mud and slime from the last disaster and were inundated again.

The villager, who declined to be named, said state authorities had visited their village following the floods last month but there were only minimal mitigation and clearing works done so far.

For areas like Kasigui, residents there have resorted to buying their own pump boats and inflatable boats to face the never-ending scourge.

Inundated: A photo shared by social media users showing the floods in Sabah.

Alex Tham, 50, is exasperated at the amount of work, not to mention money, needed to clean up and fix what’s broken after every flooding.

“Please help us. We can’t take this anymore,” he pleaded.

There were also victims whose vehicles were swept away when water started to rise, like what Francis Xavier Kinjin, 37, and his brother encountered.

“I just don’t know what to say anymore, but enough is enough.

“We in Penampang have suffered enough and if our ministers and assemblymen truly want to serve the people, please do something to help mitigate flooding here.

“And to those who helped us pull my brother’s car out of the flood waters, I wish to say thank you,” he said.

In Papar, damaged houses, blown-off roofs and other losses were reported due to strong winds.

The Meteorological Department has warned of thunderstorms in Sabah and Labuan to be expected until Oct 18.

The public can keep themselves updated with the latest weather forecasts via https://www.met.gov.my/forecast/weather/state/St502. - Star