KUCHING: The long-awaited flood mitigation project in Taman Malihah is ready to be implemented, says Kho Teck Wan, a political secretary to the Premier of Sarawak.
Kho, who is also the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief, explained that the Sungai Sarawak Integrated River Basin (PLSB) Project is a federally funded project.
It was approved during Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration prior to 2016 to mitigate flooding in the greater Kuching area.
“Despite the overwhelming support shown by the voters in Bandar Kuching and Stampin for Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 2018 general election, the much-needed Kuching flood mitigation plan was put under review by the PH government after the 14th general election in 2018.
“After significant delays, the project was finally given the green light to resume in 2020,” she said in a statement on Monday (Oct 30).
Kho said that Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai, deputy chairman of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Tupong Branch (who is also the deputy mayor of Kuching South City Council), Datuk Zaiedi Suhaili, representing Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman and herself, followed up with Sarawak Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) on the progress of the flood mitigation project for Taman Malihah in Tupong on Monday.
“DID Sarawak deputy director Law Wee and his team of DID engineers, together with the project consultant, took us to Taman Malihah to explain how the new flood mitigation design will resolve the flash flood issue at Taman Malihah.”
She said that the proposed flood mitigation at Taman Malihah will involve widening and deepening Sungai Tengah and Sungai Minjap, with a base width of 10m and 20m, respectively.
“Jalan Syn San Too A will be built higher, and a dam will be constructed along the river behind Taman Malihah.
“A retention pond along the boundary of Taman Malihah will also be built. This project, which will take two years, will resolve the flash flood issue in Taman Malihah.”
Kho stressed that DID Sarawak said that, although the proposed flood mitigation projects will resolve the flash flood issue at Taman Malihah, they are not designed to prevent floods due to phenomena such as high tide and drainage blockage.
“Contrary to what was claimed by Democratic Action Party (DAP) people’s representatives (YBs), the approved funds are kept by DID Malaysia on the federal side, and as of May this year, DID Sarawak has only received RM6.9mil for the payment of land acquisition in the Batu Lintang area out of the RM150mil allocated to PLSB flood mitigation project for Bandar Kuching.
“As DID Sarawak is getting ready to call for tenders in early November this year, we are grateful to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and his team for making a working visit to federal Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
“The outcome of such a visit has managed to get the kind assistance from Minister Nik Nazmi to follow up with Ministry of Finance (MOF) to expedite all necessary processes, including financial and administrative documentation by MOF.”
She said that the collaboration between Dr Sim and Nik Nazmi has fast-tracked the implementation of this project.
“Now, DID Sarawak is finally allowed to call for tenders for these flood mitigation projects,” she highlighted.
