Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has hit back at Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking criticism of the flood management, accusing him of failing to address the issue when he was in power.

Leiking had earlier cited poor maintenance of drainage systems as the primary cause of recurring floods in Penampang, Sepanggar, Putatan, and Kota Kinabalu, saying he gathered his findings from Warisan’s divisional chiefs, who in turn spoke to affected residents.

But GRS youth chief Datuk Caesar Mandela Malakun took offense at Leiking’s remarks, particularly those concerning Penampang, where he served as MP from 2013 to 2022. Malakun dismissed Leiking’s claims, calling them “ironic” given his own track record in the district.

“It is truly ironic that Leiking, the Moyog assemblyman, has suddenly become an ‘expert’ on Penampang’s flood problems—when for nearly a decade, he failed to address these very issues as the Member of Parliament for Penampang from 2013 to 2022, including his tenure as a Federal Minister from 2018 to 2020,” Malakun said in a statement shared on the GRS Facebook page.

He questioned why Leiking, despite holding federal influence, did not act when he had the chance.

“Did he push for federal funding to upgrade the drainage system in Penampang? No. Did he use his influence as a Federal Minister to ensure the flood mitigation plan was implemented? No. Did he fight for his constituents when he actually had power? Clearly not,” he said.

Leiking, meanwhile, has maintained that clogged drains and neglected waterways are the main reasons behind repeated flash floods in the densely populated districts.

“The water is stagnant, black, and foul-smelling—this clearly indicates a lack of maintenance,” he said, citing the monsoon drain known as “Parit Juta” as an example of systemic neglect.

He also pointed to overgrown vegetation and debris buildup, saying these issues were among the top complaints raised by residents through Warisan’s local leaders.

“When our party’s division leaders visit flood-hit locations, residents express frustration that their homes and businesses keep getting inundated despite repeated calls for action,” he said.

Leiking also took aim at GRS for its lack of transparency in drainage contracts, urging the government to publicly disclose the names of maintenance concessionaires.

“The government should make these details public. People have the right to know who is responsible for maintaining these drainage systems and why they keep failing,” he said.

But Malakun was not convinced, accusing Leiking of trying to shift the blame instead of taking responsibility for his past inaction.

“The people of Penampang and Moyog deserve better than a leader who talks but does not act. If Darell Leiking cannot even fulfill his responsibilities as ADUN for Moyog, perhaps it is time for him to step aside and let real leaders take charge—leaders who work, not just talk,” Malakun said.

He also compared Leiking to current Penampang MP Ewon Benedick, saying the latter had been more proactive in addressing the district’s flood woes.

“Unlike Leiking, Ewon Benedick has been tirelessly working to fix the problems left behind by years of Warisan’s failure. Since taking office, Ewon has actively engaged with the relevant authorities to push for real flood mitigation solutions—something Leiking failed to do during his 10-year tenure as MP for Penampang,” he said.

Leiking, however, has called for a more scientific approach to tackling flood issues, urging the government to implement predictive flood scenario planning and assess whether Sabah’s drainage systems need upgrades to cope with changing rainfall patterns.

“With all the government’s resources, expertise, and access to ground data, there is no reason why predictive flood scenario planning has not been implemented,” he said. – February 3, 2025