SANDAKAN: Tanjong Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien Ching Qiang has called on the State Government to immediately activate contingency plans for the upcoming Super El Nino, which the Meteorological Department predicts with over 90% certainty to strike by year-end—potentially exceeding the extreme intensity of the catastrophic 1997–1998 and 2015–2016 events.
He stressed that this is far from ordinary hot weather, pointing out that the phenomenon could trigger severe, prolonged droughts, extreme temperatures, and drastically reduced rainfall, with direct and devastating consequences for public life—particularly in Sandakan, which bore the brunt of the last historic dry spell.
Thien urged the government to roll out a specific agricultural emergency plan, including securing water sources for farming zones, deploying temporary irrigation systems, water-storage facilities, pumps, and promoting drought-resistant crops—all to prevent a supply crunch that would inevitably drive up food prices for ordinary families.
He also demanded transparency regarding the healthcare system’s readiness, noting that Sandakan’s hospitals are already operating under strained bed capacity and staffing levels. A prolonged heatwave could trigger spikes in heatstroke, dehydration, and respiratory illnesses, requiring immediate upgrades to emergency wards, cooling equipment, and medical supplies rather than waiting until wards are overwhelmed.
On water security—already a long-standing issue in Sandakan—Thien questioned how long local dams and reservoirs could hold out under an extended dry spell. He insisted that the state must disclose concrete emergency measures, including alternative water sources, water-tanker distribution routes, and priority supply guarantees for critical facilities like hospitals, schools, and public markets.
Rejecting a “wait-and-see” approach, he emphasised that the government still has a narrow window to prepare based on the worst-case scenario, as the Super El Nino is expected to peak from late this year into early next year—and history shows that Sandakan cannot afford to be caught off guard.
“This is not just a weather issue—it is a survival issue for the people,” Thien said, urging the state to publish a comprehensive, detailed action plan covering water, agriculture, food security, health, and disaster management.
“We must ensure that when extreme conditions hit, people have water to drink, farmers have water to plant, markets have food to sell, and hospitals have beds for patients—not scramble for solutions after disaster strikes,” added Thien. – James Leong
Thien emphasised that the government still has a narrow window to prepare based on the worst-case scenario.
