KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — The government can save RM1.7 billion by expediting the implementation of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin (PLSB) project, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said this can be made possible following the government's decision to consolidate all three phases of the flood mitigation project, including the phase overseen by the National Security Council.
“… the Sungai Golok (PLSB) project and the dredging and cleaning of the Sungai Golok estuary, involves both the Malaysian and the Thai governments.
"... if we expedite and consolidate the three phases of the project, we will stand to save RM1.7 billion. That is why I say the principles of governance and transparency in the project must be upheld,” he said during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The Prime Minister said the Kelantan government had also given assurance that the land acquisition for the Sungai Golok PLSB project would be fast-tracked and completed within six months compared to 24 months previously.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said this in reply to Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar) who wanted to know the proactive measures taken by the government to deal with floods during each monsoon season as well as the unforeseen factors in areas that are frequently hit by floods and have the potential to be hit by floods in the future.
— Bernama
