KUCHING: A sum of RM6.1 million has been set aside for slope maintenance work in Sarawak.
Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the allocation was made available to the state from a nationwide allocation of RM200 million.
He said RM160 million was allocated for Semenanjung for the same purpose, RM29.5 million for Sabah and RM4.4 million for Labuan.
“We do set aside allocation for slope maintenance. In Semenanjung, the ministry appoints concessionaire companies to carry out slope maintenance work.
“Whenever there is an incident of slope collapse, there is an allocation for repair works.
“And if there is no allocation, it will be made under the Ministry of Finance’s (MOF) provision where we will request it under the emergency allocation,” he said in a press conference after attending an engagement session with the media at Kuching Waterfront Hotel on Sunday (Nov 14).
On Nov 9 during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, Fadillah said there were 1,474 slopes with moderate to very high hazard identified in five states in the country.
The states with such slopes which may be affected during the northeast monsoon season are in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
He assured that the ministry was prepared for the northeast monsoon every year.
All state and district Public Works Department (JKR) have been instructed to carry out measures and make preparations in terms of manpower, machinery and logistics, he added.
