Logging behind Sook's worsening floods?

Daily Express

22-05-2025

Published on: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Published on: Thu, May 22, 2025
By: Clarence Dol Text Size: Villagers rescue an elderly woman who was trapped in her orchard. SOOK: Residents of five villages in the Sook district are now increasingly desperate as floods continue to occur almost every month, with three floods in May alone. It is not known if it is due to decades of illegal logging, among others. This situation has also affected more than 300 students from five schools, in addition to threatening the safety of senior citizens, daily wage workers and small traders. Since the last State Election (PRN), the problem of flooding on the main route from Kg Malima to Kg Binuwou Tengah, which is a daily route for residents of Kg Seribulu, Kg Nukakatan, Kg Terlobou Baru, Kg Johan Jaya and areas near Syarikat Jutaya has become increasingly acute and worrying for residents. Flooding has now become a monthly routine, and what is more worrying is that flooding still occurs even though it only rains moderately. The main route is impassable due to the collapsed surfaces and the drainage system that is no longer functioning properly. According to a resident, repair work was once carried out by a company by spreading stones on the route including road grading.
Advertisement However, this not only did not solve the problem, but also caused the road to become lower and more prone to flooding. The scattered stones also got washed away by the flood, making the road even more dangerous. Kampung Terlobou head Matilin Bin Sapin, said: 'Every time it rains, we worry. The roads here are not only flooded, but also endanger lives. Many residents are trapped, students are forced to skip school and daily wage workers who work in Sook town and Keningau town have lost their income. 'We have made many reports in writing, through social media and verbally to the authorities, elected representatives, the Public Works Department (JKR) and the companies that maintain the roads in this area, but still no concrete solution. 'We really hope the authorities, elected representatives, JKR and the State Government will go to the ground and see for themselves our suffering,' he said. The impact of the floods was so significant that the five schools involved — SMK Sook, SK Malima, SK Bunang, SK Binuwou Tengah and SK Sook — had to implement PDPR when students were unable to attend school. There were also incidents of students almost drowning while trying to cross the flood, and small traders and crops such as palm oil were damaged and could not be sold due to the road being cut off. An elderly person was trapped when returning from the garden, but was successfully rescued by villagers. Residents have worked together to clean the ditches and try to build temporary paths, but without long-term support, this situation has not changed much. The problem of flooding still occurs. Villagers just want safe roads, especially for children to go to school. Villagers hope that the authorities, State and Federal governments will take this issue seriously. Among the urgent proposals include upgrading the main road from Kg Malima to Kg Binuwou Tengah, filling low-lying areas that are prone to flooding and enlarging the size of culverts and drainage systems along the main route. The villagers' hopes are clear, they want immediate action, change and a comprehensive solution, not just visits like those that were done in the past. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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