Malaysia: ‘RM45.78 million for 97 flood mitigation projects this year’

The Borneo Post 15 Nov 17;

AN allocation of RM45.78 million, under the Cabinet Committee Rural Transformation Initiatives, has been approved for 97 flood mitigation projects in the state for this year.

Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said these projects will be implemented by local authorities, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and the Public Works Department (JKR).

“Sixty-three of these projects will be completed by the end of this year whilst the remaining 34 projects will be implemented in 2018,” he said when winding up his ministerial speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.

He pointed out that the federal government has also allocated RM47.84 million for flood mitigation and RM45.29 million for the River Management Programme.

“The allocations are for the implementation of flood mitigation projects, river bank protection, ‘Pasca Banjir’ projects and river clearing and maintenance works throughout the state.”

He said the flood mitigation project for Bintulu at Jalan Tun Razak with physical progress of 13 per cent was on schedule for completion by Dec 2018 while the flood mitigation for Sibu phase 3 at RM100 million and Kuching at RM150 million are expected to commence by early next year and the second half of 2018 respectively.

Dr Sim said the government would also continue to give priority to the Stormwater Management Master Plan study for urban centres in Sarawak with approved fund amounting to RM11 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

“Stormwater Management Master Plan for Sarikei and Bintangor is in progress and scheduled to be completed by February 2018,” he said, adding that studies for Sri Aman, Betong, Debak, Spaoh, Saratok, Limbang, Lawas and Serian were also being planned in the next two years.

For the coastal erosion protection and river mouth rehabilitation programme, he said the federal government had approved a total of RM84 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan.

“There are ten projects under this programme with projects at Kampung Santubong, Kampung Tanah Hitam and Kampung Siru Melayu successfully completed while the one at Kampung Serpan, Asajaya is currently under construction.

He added that the remaining six projects at SK Bedengan, Sematan, Buntal, Sebuyau, Batu 1 Kuala Baram and Oya Hilir are in various stages of design and procurement.

“In addition, RM29.96 million has been approved for river mouth dredging works to mitigate flood and facilitate river navigation. The four projects are the river mouths of Sg Sematan, Sg Buntal, Sg Bako and Sg Limbang.”

Meanwhile, Dr Sim said the state government had also approved an allocation of RM53.97 million this year for 23 local authorities to implement 562 infrastructure projects for upgrading of street lightings, traffic lights, footpaths, public toilets, libraries, jetties and recreational parks.