Posted on February 20, 2025
SIBU (Feb 17): Sungai Seduan and Sungai Antu will undergo dredging works, costing RM15 million, to improve the drainage and prevent prolonged water stagnation in the area.
In stating this, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak Datuk Michael Tiang said the project would be based on the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID)’s recommendations.
“When we want to resolve the flooding issues, we can’t do it piecemeal. We better do a full package.
“So, there’s no point you do just one part (dredging Sungai Seduan) and leave the other part alone. It’s better to do both sides (Sungai Seduan and Sungai Antu). That’s what the DID has recommended,” the Pelawan assemblyman told reporters when met at the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Pelawan’s ‘New Year Gala Dinner’ here, last Saturday.
Adding on, Tiang said he would work with the DID in obtaining the necessary funding, either from the federal or state government.
In his remarks, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting said the siltation had built up at the mouth of Sungai Seduan, which last underwent dredging in 2011.
“So, this is my priority – to get Sungai Seduan dredged. And through YB (Tiang) asking this the other day, DID had agreed.
“Also, DID Sibu divisional engineer Rudi Abang Zamhari had told us that they’re also going to dredge Sungai Antu,” said the SUPP Pelawan chairman.
According to him, the water from 41 per cent of the Sibu housing areas including those in Sentosa, Permai and Lim Han Swee, drains through Sungai Seduan.
“If you have noticed, the water level during the floods this time around was not high, but the water stayed on for about eight to nine days. This was very, very unusual.
“If the (Seduan) river was not dredged, the water would stay over roads like Jalan Ling Kai Cheng and Jalan Apollo,” said Ting.
Meanwhile, a total of 185 new members were inducted into SUPP Pelawan branch at the event.
SUPP Pelawan organising secretary Albert Tiang conducted the ceremony.
