KOTA KINABALU: A former lawmaker is starting a petition to call for quicker and concrete action to solve the frequent flooding issue in Penampang.

       Jennifer Lasimbang, who served as Moyog assemblyman from 2018 to 2020, said the petition via Change.org was aimed at getting the authorities to start river widening and sand dredging works immediately.

       She said the lower part of the Moyog River and its tributaries were heavily silted, contributing to increased flash floods.

       She also claimed that the flooding was a direct consequence of extensive land clearing for projects, such as housing, plantations, industries and highways, as well as from severe erosion due to heavy rain.

       This had made the river shallow and to overflow even after just a short period of rain, she said.

       Lasimbang hopes that this will also act as a wake-up call for residents themselves to be more mindful of environmental protection.

       “My house has been inundated by floods countless times, and we’ve been cleaning up repeatedly, especially over the past couple of months,” said Lasimbang.

       She said she and her team of volunteers had been helping other flood victims clean their houses before they were hit again by yet another round of flooding.

       “That is why I hope that by starting this petition, getting people to sign and being more aware of what’s happening, we can start to make a difference from our own homes,” said Lasimbang, who aims to get at least 5,000 signatures soon.

       She said Penampang folk as well as other frequent flood victims had suffered tremendous loss of household property and business, and mental anguish due to repeated floods.

       Sabah’s west coast areas, especially Penampang, have been hit by severe flooding four times since September.