PENAMPANG: The Warisan Party Penampang Division today requested an explanation from the Sabah Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) regarding whether the dam at Sungai Petagas, located behind the Holy Nativity Church, Terawi, is the cause of the increasing frequency of floods in the villages along the Moyog River such as Kg. Dabak, Kg. Tanaki, Kg. Nambazan, Kg. Ramayah–Tadau, and Kg. Sugud.
This issue was raised by the Head of Women's Information for the division, Puan Agnes Kinsil, during a survey of the dam with Warisan Party leaders, community activists, and village residents in the affected areas.
According to Agnes, her side was informed that the dam, which was created through land reclamation, aims to divert the flow of the Moyog River to the Putatan River.
“However, this reclamation is believed to be one of the reasons why settlements along the Penampang–Papar Lama Road frequently experience severe flooding. This is because the flow of the Moyog River, particularly along the Putatan–Ramayah Road, is said to be less efficient, leading to overflow,” she said in a statement today.
She added that logically, the inefficient flow of water to the sea—coupled with overflow from the Babagon Dam during continuous heavy rain and the phenomenon of high tide—certainly has the potential to cause the aforementioned settlements to experience flooding.
"We have also been informed that the design of the concrete control channel, which allows 10% of the river flow to flow into Sungai Petagas, is often blocked by logs or debris, and this also contributes to the inefficiency of water flow here," she further stated.
Agnes emphasized that Warisan Penampang Division fully supports the implementation of flood mitigation projects in the district, but it must be carried out prudently, based on comprehensive technical studies and not merely to chase project completion percentages.
“We are not sure why JPS Sabah constructed this dam when it is not easy to divert the water flow to the Putatan River unless it is deepened first.
“Therefore, we hope that JPS Sabah will consider the suggestion to open this dam to reduce the flood impact in the Lower Moyog area, especially since we have already received a ‘warning’ through the major flood event in June 2024 that submerged several areas in Penampang that had never experienced flooding before,” she said.
She also urged that a detailed study be conducted by JPS Sabah to determine whether the dam is the main cause of the increased flood risk in the Moyog area recently, and hoped for an official explanation to be provided to the local community.
During the survey, Agnes was accompanied by the Director of Strategic Communications for Warisan Central, Christopher Masudal, the Head of Warisan Penampang Division, Jeffrey Leiking, as well as community activists Oswald Supi and Timothy Jominol.
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