KUCHING: The state government has allocated RM16.925 million this year for four urban drain improvement projects at Kampung Gita in Kuching, Kampung Jeriah and Kampung Bahagia in Sibu, and Taman Tunku in Miri.
This was revealed by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian in his winding-up speech yesterday.
He said under “Projek Rakyat”, RM146.82 million was approved for 31 projects that included flood mitigation, riverbank erosion protection, concrete walkways and rural roads.
Of the total, 28 projects were under way while the balance were waiting to be awarded.
According to the minister, the state government has approved in January this year the restructuring of the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
He said the approval of additional 400 new posts in addition to 96 contract posts approved last year would strengthen the capacity and capability of the department in enhancing its services and expedite the delivery of all approved state and federal-funded projects.
With regard to federal projects, Sim said that the federal government had allocated RM14.7 million for flood mitigation projects, riverbank protection works, river clearing and maintenance.
Work on Sibu Phase 3 flood mitigation project, he explained, would commence soon. Two projects were under tender evaluation and four others were still at the design stage.
The Sarawak River Basin Integrated Project, consisting of nine sub-projects with a total cost of RM150 million, was still pending the appointment of consultants by the federal government.
Said Sim, “The nine sub-projects are the proposed flood mitigation for Sarawak General Hospital, Jalan Batu Lintang, Federal Quarters, Sg Tabuan, Sg Gersik, Sg Sinjan, Taman Malihah, SK Muara Tuang and Taman Uni Garden.
“As for the riverbank protection projects, there are five – Pekan Sabtu Oya, Sungai Baram, Betong, Ulu Spak and Kpg Pulat Balingian – and they will commence this year.
“The first three projects have yet to be awarded while the other two will be tendered soon. For the river wall at Batang Kayan in Lundu, the contract has been terminated and the project will be re-tendered soon.”
On riverbank erosion raised by the assemblymen for Tupong, Lingga, Beting Mato, Balingian, Kalaka and Simunjan, Sim commented that many of the settlements were along riverbanks with high risk of erosion, especially those at concave bends which were hit by swift river currents.
“The cost of riverbank protection is very expensive. To construct a 100-metre river wall or revetment will cost RM2 million to RM3 million, depending on the type of structure required and working conditions. Hence, a better solution is to resettle the affected residents further away from the riverbanks.
“However, the DID will still submit proposals for riverbank protection works in the 12th Malaysia Plan for densely populated areas,” he said.
Sim also clarified flooding issues in Simunjan town, dredging of Batang Kemena river mouth, deepening and widening of Sungai Serian and river diversion at Kampung Melayu Debak.
He said studies pertaining to the Storm Water Management Drainage Master Plan were conducted for urban centres to ensure adequate storm water for future planning and development.
The studies for Sarikei and Bintangor were completed earlier, while the studies for Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Debak, Spaoh, Saratok, Limbang and Lawas were expected to commence this year.
On the urban sewerage projects under the Sewerage Services Department (SSD), Sim stated that under the Eleventh Malaysia Plan, the federal government approved RM60 million for four additional septic sludge treatment plants for Betong, Sarikei, Kapit and Limbang.
“The designs have been completed but the projects have been put on hold by the federal government since June 7, 2018. The SSD on Sept 13, 2018 wrote to the federal Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources for these projects to be continued.
The Department again submitted proposal in March 2019 to resume the projects in 2020. To date, we have not received any feedback from the ministry,” he said.
On the construction of Miri Centralised Sewerage System, Phase 1, Package A, Sim said 45 percent of the work had been completed. It was scheduled for completion in 2021.
“The contract for Package B involving the construction of a centralised sewage treatment plant commenced on Jan 31, 2019. It has achieved a progress of one percent and it is on schedule for completion by July 30, 2020. The total scheme value of Package A and Package B is RM428 million.
“For the Kuching Centralised Sewerage System, Zone 1 Package 2 Contract with an allocation of RM20 million was scheduled for completion in March 2019. However, its completion date is now rescheduled to June 2019. The delay is due to adverse subsoil conditions.
“For Package 2 Contract, which commenced on Sept 15, 2017, it is scheduled for completion in 2023. The project is progressing well at 12 per cent,” said Sim.
