Sarawak govt urged to relocate village to less flood-prone area

PETALING JAYA (June 14): The Sarawak state government has been urged to consider relocating Kampung Jeriah in Sibu, Sarawak to a less flood-prone area, reported Bernama.

Kampung Jeriah is one of three resettlement areas to address illegal squatter problems in Sibu over two decades ago.

According to Bandar Sibu MP Oscar Ling Chai Yew, the village is located at a deep peat soil area that was constantly sinking.

“Why pick the area for resettlement in the first place? Is there any plan to relocate the kampung?” he asked, adding that it would be costly in the long run to provide and maintain basic infrastructure for the dwellers there.

Ling said he was ready to have a discussion with Nangka State Assemblyman and Sarawak Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Annuar Rapa’ee, to work on a suitable mechanism if a plan goes through to relocate the village.

Two other Sarawak resettlements, Kampung Bahagia in Teku and Kampung Sentosa in Salim, are also flood-prone areas.