KOTA KINABALU: Engineers from the private sector in Sabah have offered their expertise to assist state agencies in flood mitigation issues affecting the capital.
Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sabah Branch chairman KJ Tan said the offer was made after Kota Kinabalu was hit by the latest round of floods over the weekend.
“Our members comprise experienced professionals in civil engineering, hydrology, drainage and flood control, geotechnical engineering, coastal engineering, urban infrastructure planning, and environmental engineering.
“If requested, IEM Sabah can contribute through the technical advice and professional opinions, independent engineering assessments, review of drainage and flood mitigation strategies and share best practices and lessons learnt from similar flood-prone regions,” Tan said in a statement.
He said effective flood management requires a coordinated, data-driven and technically sound approach, supported by professional expertise and long-term planning.
As such, Tan said collaboration among government agencies, local authorities, technical professionals, and the community is essential to develop resilient and sustainable solutions for Kota Kinabalu and Sabah as a whole.
“We reaffirm IEM Sabah’s commitment to serving the public interest and supporting initiatives that enhance infrastructure resilience, public safety, and environmental sustainability,” he added.
Tan explained that flooding is caused by several complex and interrelated factors, including extreme weather conditions, limited drainage capacity, urban development patterns, tidal influences and constraints on long-term infrastructure.
He said the latest flooding in Kolombong, Inanam and Menggatal in Kota Kinabalu was of serious concern due to the damage caused to properties and the hardship faced by affected communities and businesses.
As of yesterday, the number of evacuees at temporary relief centres remained at 513 people from 177 families from Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu and Kota Belud.
Beaufort recorded the highest number of victims, with 338 people from 120 families, Kota Kinabalu reported 158 victims from 53 families and Kota Belud recorded 17 victims from four families.
No fatalities were reported from the floods that began on Saturday.
