KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has suggested that a coordinating committee be set up to help communities and villagers voice the impact of development projects on their lives.

The proposed committee would include relevant government departments and agencies as well as project contractors, said the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister in a statement on Tuesday (Oct 18).

Kitingan earlier met with community leaders of Kampung Kolopis in Penampang, who sought his help regarding the worsening flood situation in their village.

The low-lying Kg Kolopis is a flood prone area but villagers claimed the problem worsened ever since the start of the Pan Borneo Highway project that cuts across their village.

Since the highway project commenced, floodwaters took days to recede unlike before when it only took a few hours, they lamented.

“I feel the frustration of the community and I will bring this up to the Cabinet so there will be a discussion.

“I suggest there should be a coordinating committee on the Pan Borneo Highway project where it passes villages,” said Kitingan who is also state Agriculture and Fisheries Minister.

On Kg Kolopis villagers’ predicament, he offered to help them by communicating with the Public Works Department and the project contractor.

On a larger front, Kitingan acknowledged that there were no shortcuts to mitigate floods in the district, which required huge amounts of resources and time.

He said flooding in Sabah had been made worse by the changing and rising sea tide as a result of climate change.