PUTRAJAYA, July 11 — Fifteen companies have been selected to implement flood mitigation projects in seven states with high incidences of flooding.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the 15 companies have received Letters of Acceptance from the Irrigation and Drainage Department to carry out projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan in Selangor, Johor, Kelantan, Kedah, Pahang, Perak and Negeri Sembilan.
Fadillah, also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the projects, with a total contract cost of RM1.245 billion, are crucial to reduce flooding in the river basins involved to ensure safety and minimise property damage and public infrastructure loss.
“The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry is committed to implementing planned and approved development projects to achieve the national agenda of transforming the water sector into a sustainable one,” he said in his speech at the ministry’s monthly assembly here today.
His speech text was read by Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
Fadillah said he wants the ministry to take immediate corrective and mitigating actions in response to issues raised in the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) and the Public Accounts Committee report.
He said 16 issues related to national water management highlighted in the reports must be taken seriously.
The LKAN 2/2024 revealed 145 out of 712 water infrastructure development projects were delayed by 86 to 1,076 days, involving costs of RM6.15 billion.
The LKAN 2/2024 also highlighted that sewage treatment plants were the main contributors to the pollution load of 343 tonnes per day, the highest recorded.
— Bernama
