FMT:
Anwar orders RM600mil flood mitigation projects to be expedited
The prime minister says flood mitigation projects will begin in June after the tender process is completed.
Anwar Ibrahim (in yellow jacket) comforting a child who is among the scores of victims taking shelter at the SK Gemereh flood relief centre in Segamat. (Bernama pic)
SEGAMAT: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has given his assurance that flood mitigation projects, especially in Johor, will be expedited and will commence in June this year.
He said the tendering process for the projects needs to be done as soon as possible, considering that the flood issue is a recurring problem.
“If we don’t do anything serious to address this (flood) issue, it will happen again.
“This is not the first time, and it has been going on for years and sometimes twice a year.
“As such, we decided that expensive flood mitigation projects worth RM600 million and more will be expedited,” he told reporters after visiting the temporary relief centre at SJK (Cina) Kampung Tengah here today.
He said the postponement of six flood mitigation projects before this was to avoid leakages in allocations to assist the people.
The prime minister also warned those involved not to misuse the disaster allocation provided by the government.
“I strongly warn against using the allocation given during floods, emergencies or other situations, such as for flood mitigation projects, as an opportunity to make extra money,” he said.
During the tabling of Budget 2023, Anwar announced that six flood mitigation projects, including one in Sungai Johor, Kota Tinggi, would be re-tendered by June.
Other projects are the construction of the Sungai Klang-Sungai Rasau dual-function reservoir in Selangor and Phase 3 of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project in Kelantan.
The prime minister said the federal government had approved an allocation of RM10 million for flood aid through the rural and regional development ministry, as announced by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier.
“I have also announced an additional allocation of RM50 million to be channelled to flood victims and several urgent projects,” he said.
Anwar said the government was maintaining its decision to not declare a disaster emergency in Johor as the weather in the state is seen to be improving.
“The government’s decision to not declare a state of emergency is because rain has started to taper off and floodwaters have begun to recede in several places.
“Although there are also some places where the floodwaters remain stagnant, there is no need for a disaster emergency declaration for now.”
The Cabinet meeting on Friday decided that there was no need for a flood emergency to be declared in Johor.
Anwar also said that Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi had requested several new projects to be implemented in the state to reduce the impact of floods.
“So I told him that since we can save around RM1 billion to RM2 billion from old projects, the money will be used for new projects in Segamat, Kota Tinggi and other areas badly hit by floods,” he said.
Anwar said he had also contacted several government-linked companies (GLCs), which managed to raise an additional fund of RM20 million to assist Johor residents.
“Tenaga Nasional Bhd will immediately solve electricity problems, Yayasan Sime Darby has provided health kits for over 1,500 families while the rest raised RM20 million in flood relief funds for Johor,” he said.
SEGAMAT: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has given his assurance that flood mitigation projects, especially in Johor, will be expedited and will commence in June this year.
He said the tendering process for the projects needs to be done as soon as possible, considering that the flood issue is a recurring problem.
“If we don’t do anything serious to address this (flood) issue, it will happen again.
“This is not the first time, and it has been going on for years and sometimes twice a year.
“As such, we decided that expensive flood mitigation projects worth RM600 million and more will be expedited,” he told reporters after visiting the temporary relief centre at SJK (Cina) Kampung Tengah here today.
He said the postponement of six flood mitigation projects before this was to avoid leakages in allocations to assist the people.
The prime minister also warned those involved not to misuse the disaster allocation provided by the government.
“I strongly warn against using the allocation given during floods, emergencies or other situations, such as for flood mitigation projects, as an opportunity to make extra money,” he said.
During the tabling of Budget 2023, Anwar announced that six flood mitigation projects, including one in Sungai Johor, Kota Tinggi, would be re-tendered by June.
Other projects are the construction of the Sungai Klang-Sungai Rasau dual-function reservoir in Selangor and Phase 3 of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project in Kelantan.
The prime minister said the federal government had approved an allocation of RM10 million for flood aid through the rural and regional development ministry, as announced by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier.
“I have also announced an additional allocation of RM50 million to be channelled to flood victims and several urgent projects,” he said.
Anwar said the government was maintaining its decision to not declare a disaster emergency in Johor as the weather in the state is seen to be improving.
“The government’s decision to not declare a state of emergency is because rain has started to taper off and floodwaters have begun to recede in several places.
“Although there are also some places where the floodwaters remain stagnant, there is no need for a disaster emergency declaration for now.”
The Cabinet meeting on Friday decided that there was no need for a flood emergency to be declared in Johor.
Anwar also said that Johor menteri besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi had requested several new projects to be implemented in the state to reduce the impact of floods.
“So I told him that since we can save around RM1 billion to RM2 billion from old projects, the money will be used for new projects in Segamat, Kota Tinggi and other areas badly hit by floods,” he said.
Anwar said he had also contacted several government-linked companies (GLCs), which managed to raise an additional fund of RM20 million to assist Johor residents.
“Tenaga Nasional Bhd will immediately solve electricity problems, Yayasan Sime Darby has provided health kits for over 1,500 families while the rest raised RM20 million in flood relief funds for Johor,” he said.
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