SHAH ALAM - The government spends billions of ringgit annually to reduce the risk of major floods, particularly in East Coast states such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as well as Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Johor.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) from 2021 to 2025, the government has allocated over RM22 billion, including the construction of Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) projects, dams and retention ponds, among others.
Among the projects were the RTBs in the Pahang River basin in Pahang, Sungai Langat, Selangor; Sungai Jelai, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan; Sungai Likas in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Kuching, Sarawak; Baling, Kedah and the Integrated River Basin Development Project of Sungai Kelantan in Kelantan.
However, Cluster of Environment and Sustainability, Academy of Professors Malaysia chairman Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo said although the government spent billions of ringgit annually, it does not guarantee that the country will be free from the threats of floods.
Ibrahim explained that floods were a natural phenomenon caused by extreme heavy rainfall, with other contributing factors such as low-lying terrain, floodplains and various human activities.
He said although floods were difficult to avoid, their impact and risks can be reduced with proper planning, such as constructing RTB projects in strategic locations nationwide.
"If we understand the flood phenomenon and its impact on specific areas, we can plan three types of actions like short-term measures to repair the damage, medium-term strategies to reduce risks such as building embankments and flood barriers and long-term planning, such as urban renewal and relocating from high-risk areas to safer locations," he told Sinar.
Meanwhile, former environment and water minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man urged the Madani government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to expedite RTB projects to prevent the country from incurring annual losses estimated at over RM6 billion due to nationwide flood disasters.
The Pas deputy president said he highlighted during his speech on the 2024 Budget that the government should not cancel the flood mitigation projects approved by the previous administration.
This, he said was because the projects had undergone thorough evaluations by the Finance Ministry and the Public Private Partnership Unit under the Prime Minister's Department before receiving approval.
However, Ibrahim, who is also the Kubang Kerian Member of Parliament said the Prime Minister had directed the retendering of the RTB projects, with the contractor selection recently finalised by the Finance Ministry.
"I believe the government should allocate a substantial one-off fund to complete all the flood mitigation projects nationwide as planned," he said.
Ibrahim also emphasised the need to expedite the construction of the Nenggiri Dam and the Lebir Dam, which can reduce the risk of flooding from the overflow of Sungai Kelantan, Sungai Lebir and Sungai Nenggiri by up to 80 per cent.
He also proposed that the government explore implementing the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel or the G-Cans Project, similar to Japan's approach, to tackle flooding problems in the capital city.
Latest Updates on RTB projects:
List of 33 high-priority flood mitigation projects approved under 2024 Budget (Cost: RM11.8 billion):
- RTB Pahang River Basin, Pahang
- RTB Sungai Langat Phase 2, Selangor
- RTB Sungai Jelai, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan
- RTB Sungai Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
- RTB Kuching Phase 2, Sarawak
- RTB Baling Phase 2, Kedah
- Integrated River Basin Development, Sungai Kelantan Phase 2, Kelantan
Continuation of 12 RTB projects under 2025 Budget (Cost: Over RM3 billion):
- RTB Sungai Damansara, Selangor
- RTB Sungai Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
- RTB Sungai Triang, Bera, Pahang
- RTB Sungai Tepoh and Banggol Air Lilih, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu
- Integrated River Basin Development, Sungai Kelantan Phase 2, Kota Bharu
Integrated River Basin Development of Sungai Kelantan Phases 1 and 2 (Cost: RM1.9 billion):
- RTB Kuala Krai (RM700 million)
- RTB Tanah Merah (RM440 million)
- RTB Kota Bharu (RM750 million)
Integrated River Basin Development of Sungai Kelantan Phase 3:
- Construction of Lebir Dam - RM3.5 billion
- Construction of Nenggiri Dam - RM4 billion
Integrated River Basin Development of Sungai Golok Phase 1 (RM656 million):
- Construction of three flood embankments along Sungai Golok (26.2 kilometres)
- Sungai Alor Mengkuang scope (3.1 kilometres)
- Sungai Mentua scope (8.1 kilometres)