Sabah urged to act on Sungai Padang erosion as riverbank collapse threatens homes and water supply in Papar.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government has been urged to expedite the construction of concrete retaining walls along critical sections of Sungai Padang in Papar following worsening riverbank erosion that is threatening nearby homes, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly was told today.
Datuk Pengiran Saifuddin Pengiran Tahir (GRS-Pantai Manis) said the erosion was no longer a long-term concern but an emergency that required immediate action to prevent a tragedy.
“Residents are increasingly alarmed by the severe riverbank erosion, with sections of the Sungai Padang embankment collapsing at an alarming rate.
“I urge the government to channel part of the additional allocation for the Works Ministry or the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) towards the immediate construction of concrete retaining walls in these critical areas to prevent untoward tragedy and fatality,” he said during the debate on the Supplementary Supply Bill 2026.
He reiterated that the collapsing riverbank had encroached dangerously close to residential areas, raising concerns over the structural safety of homes, particularly during the monsoon season.
“Villagers living along Sungai Padang can barely sleep at night, especially during the monsoon, fearing their homes could collapse and be swept away by the strong river current,” he said.
Pengiran Saifuddin said the stability of the riverbank was also crucial to ensuring a reliable supply of treated water to Pantai Manis and Papar, which frequently experience disruptions caused by high river turbidity and saltwater intrusion at the Limbahau Water Treatment Plant.
He added that ongoing upgrades to the Kogopon 2 Water Treatment Plant and the construction of a new intake for the Limbahau Water Treatment Plant would not achieve their full impact unless riverbank stability and the cleanliness of upstream water sources were properly safeguarded.
