Solve flooding issue along busy road fast, urges Sibu MP

Flooding along Jalan Ulu Sungai Merah in Sibu.

Flooding in Jalan Ulu Sungai Merah, Sibu, has become more frequent due to the drainage retaining wall sinking, and is causing traffic jams.

Sibu MP Oscar Ling called on the local authority to look into the matter immediately as the congestion would get worse once school reopens on Jan 2.

“Whenever it rains, half of the road will be flooded.

“I hope Sibu Municipal Council will rebuild the drain culverts,” he said in a statement.

Ling, who visited the site to see the situation for himself, said the road infrastructure could not support the surge in population in Ulu Sungai Merah.

He said the people had been waiting for many years for the road to be expanded.

“In addition, the collapsed ditches and culverts have not been repaired.”

In response, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Clarence Ting denied that flash floods were frequent along the road.

“This year, it has been flooded only once.”

He said there were plans to expand the road. The project, estimated to cost RM70mil, will start in the first quarter of 2024.

Ting added that it was not possible to rebuild the drain in time for the new school term.

“To do that, we will have to close one lane for a month. That will create hardship for the 5,000 residents,” he added.

Ting said based on the council engineers’ recommendation, the best plan was to expand the road before rebuilding the drain culverts.