SIX high-priority flood mitigation projects under Malaysia’s Rancangan Tebatan Banjir (RTB) have fallen behind schedule, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) confirmed in Parliament today.
Responding to a question from Tuan Shaharizukirnain Abd. Kadir, Member of Parliament for Setiu, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof detailed that of 43 nationwide RTB projects identified as high-priority, 37 are proceeding according to plan, while six projects – RTB Sungai Solok, RTB Likas, RTB Baling Phase 2, RTB Sungai Maran, RTB Sungai Klang Section 25, and RTB Sungai Damansara – have experienced delays as of December 2025.
Fadillah, who also serves as the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA). explained that these setbacks largely stem from land-related complications, including acquisition disputes and encroachments, as well as the need to relocate existing utilities.
Delays in obtaining technical approvals from multiple agencies, extreme weather conditions, and extraordinary flood events have further impacted progress at construction sites.
“PETRA takes these delays seriously and has implemented measures to improve governance of project execution,” Fadillah stated.
Initiatives include closer and more frequent monitoring of project progress, rescheduling of work plans, enforcement of contractual terms with penalties for underperforming contractors, and intensified coordination with state governments and local authorities to expedite approvals and resolve field-level issues.
While awaiting the completion of the RTB projects, PETRA, through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), has prioritised short-term mitigation measures to protect communities in severely affected areas.
These interventions are being carried out under the River Conservation Project to Reduce Flood Risks, which encompasses river channel works, riverbank stabilisation, and upgrades to related drainage structures.
Between 2022 and 2025, a total of RM556.6 million was allocated nationwide to implement these smaller-scale mitigation works, targeting high-risk areas identified at the state level.
The ministry’s disclosure highlights both the scale of Malaysia’s flood mitigation efforts and the challenges of executing major infrastructure projects amid complex logistical, regulatory, and environmental constraints. - January 22, 2026
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