THE Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) has outlined the actions being taken by the ministry in response to the Prime Minister's call for the expedited completion of flood mitigation projects.
To achieve this, the Ministry has employed both structural and non-structural approaches.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof told the Dewan Rakyat today: “As part of the Fifth Rolling Plan under the 12th Malaysia Plan, 136 flood mitigation projects have been approved, with a total cost of RM22.86 billion.
“Of these, 35 projects are in the pre-implementation phase, while 73 projects are already under active implementation.”
On the structural front, PETRA, through JPS, is implementing a range of flood mitigation projects, including high-priority flood control projects (TBBT).
These projects encompass the construction and upgrading of various flood infrastructure such as embankments, floodwalls, control structures, pump houses, sluice gates, retention ponds, as well as river widening and deepening works, he explained.
“On the non-structural side, PETRA, in collaboration with JPS, has developed a comprehensive flood mitigation master plan for the entire country. The goal is to provide thorough planning and flood management solutions.
“As of the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) for the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMKe-12), 50 flood mitigation master plans have been completed, with six more currently under development. An additional three master plans are expected to start development in June 2025,” he added.
Fadillah, who is also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) raised this point in reply to a question raised by Datuk Dr. Alias Razak [Kuala Nerus] who had asked the ministry toto provide details on the actions taken in response to the Prime Minister's call for the expedited completion of flood mitigation projects and the current costs the government will incur, given that the approval process for these projects was previously cancelled at the end of 2022.
Fadhilah said, PETRA, through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), has consistently worked towards reducing the impact of floods across the country.
The government has reassessed flood mitigation project proposals after 2022 to prioritise critical areas. This reassessment ensures that high-risk flood zones are addressed first, following appropriate administrative procedures and contract allocations that comply with the procurement rules set by the Ministry of Finance.
The minister reiterated PETRA is fully committed to executing flood mitigation projects to address the increasing flood risks, especially in areas frequently affected by natural disasters.
JPS is reviewing ways to expedite project timelines while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Among the measures being considered are a review of land acquisition processes and design procedures to speed up project completion.
With the cooperation of all involved parties, it is expected that some projects could be completed up to 12 months earlier than originally scheduled. – February 20, 2025
