BATU PAHAT - Kota Tinggi, Segamat and Batu Pahat will be given priority to implement mitigation plans for floods (RTB) as the three districts are prone to floods following continuous rain, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
He said the RTB projects are expected cost up up to RM1 billion following Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that all RTB projects worth RM600 million would be approved and expedited from June.
Anwar said this at a press conference while visiting Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJKC) Kampung Tengah relief centre in Segamat, today.
In expressing his gratitude over the announcement Onn Hafiz said with the move several issues can be resolved quickly.
He said this to Bernama after visiting flood victims at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Medan relief centre here today.
Onn Hafiz also visited Sekolah Kebangsaan Jenis (C) Chong Hwa, Sri Medan relief centre, which was inundated for the past two days and it is understood that the centre will be closed should the water level continue to rise.
In another development, the Menteri Besar said his office would through the relevant agencies investigate the claims by residents of Kuala Paya, Segamat that cracks in the embankment at Spang Loi near here, had caused water to rise rapidly in the area.
He said an allocation of RM5 million has been set aside for the embankment repair works and the tender process would be completed next month.
"That (tender) too will also be resolved immediately and the authorities will investigate the (cracked embankment) issue," he said.
In January last year, the Spang Loi embankment which was completed in 2019, burst and caused flooding in Kampung Spang Loi and the surrounding villages when Sungai Muar started to overflow.
The then Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced a RM5 million allocation to upgrade the bunds at Kampung Spang Loi to deal with flood problems at the village and its surrounding areas. - BERNAMA