Lingga seeks flood mitigation, riverbank protection in state budget

KUCHING: Flood mitigation and riverbank protection should be prioritised in Sarawak Budget 2027 to safeguard rural communities in Lingga, where recurring floods and erosion threaten homes, roads and agricultural land.

Lingga assemblywoman Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor said these issues, alongside basic infrastructure and support for small-scale farmers, fishermen and traders, are among the pressing needs raised by residents in her constituency.

“When I visit the villages and longhouses, the people are not asking for anything extravagant. They want good roads to their farms and town, clean water every day, a stable electricity supply and reliable telephone coverage,” she told Sarawak Tribune when contacted.

She said these basic amenities should remain a priority in the upcoming state budget to ensure rural communities could enjoy better living conditions and access to economic opportunities.

Dayang Noorazah identified riverbank erosion, river erosion, flood mitigation and the development of padi granaries as four key areas requiring urgent attention in Lingga.

She said erosion is a growing concern, with land gradually being lost near residents’ homes, roads and farms, leaving some families worried whenever high tides occurred.

“Riverbank reinforcement works cannot be delayed any longer. The longer the problem is left unresolved, the higher the cost will be and the more people will be affected,” she said.

She also called for dedicated allocations for flood mitigation projects, including improvements to drainage systems and bunds, to reduce the impact of recurring floods on affected communities.

While flooding is not a new problem in Lingga, she said residents should not have to repeatedly evacuate their homes and suffer losses whenever floods occurred.

On agriculture, Dayang Noorazah said the development of padi granaries in the constituency could support Sarawak’s ambition to strengthen its rice production under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).

She said Lingga has suitable land and farmers willing to cultivate padi, but proper irrigation and drainage infrastructure, farm roads and agricultural machinery were needed to support the sector.

“If developed properly, this will not only help ensure the state’s food supply but also increase the income of rural communities,” she said.

She stressed that the four priorities are closely interconnected, as agricultural development would be difficult to sustain if farmland continued to be affected by erosion and recurring floods.

“Padi fields cannot thrive if riverbanks collapse and floodwaters enter the fields every year,” she said.

Dayang Noorazah also called for assistance for smallholders, fishermen and small traders, noting that rising costs of goods has put pressure on their livelihoods while their incomes remained largely unchanged.

She expressed confidence that the Sarawak government under Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg would continue to give attention to rural development.

“My responsibility is to ensure the voices of the people of Lingga are heard, so that no village is left behind,” she said.