SANDAKAN, July 22 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the federal government has allocated RM1 million from the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund to rebuild the suspension bridges in Penampang and Tuaran, which were damaged by recent floods. This reconstruction effort aims to restore vital transportation routes for local communities affected by the floods that began on June 30, impacting 485 residents in Penampang, Tuaran, and Putatan.
Dr. Zahid, who also chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, has directed the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to prepare three sets of Bailey Bridges as a precautionary measure. Additionally, the Department of Minerals and Geosciences (JMG) will conduct landslide studies near Mount Kinabalu, and movement sensors will be installed on vulnerable slopes. The federal government has also allocated RM10 million to address drought impacts, with plans for additional cloud seeding operations if necessary. These measures underscore the government’s commitment to addressing both flood and drought challenges in Sabah. – BERNAMA
