Minister: We need RM1bil for repairs in peninsula

KUCHING: At least RM1.09bil is needed to carry out repairs on flood-damaged roads and for landslide mitigation infrastructure in Peninsular Malaysia, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said the cost of damage due to floods in Sabah and Sarawak was still being tabulated as the floods in some areas had not receded fully.

“A total of RM45mil has already been distributed to finance repairs that are needed quickly in the peninsula to restore accessibility to areas that have been totally cut-off,” he said here yesterday.

“The roads will be repaired as soon as possible. Or, if that takes a longer time, we need to build alternative routes.

“The overall cost of repairing the roads is estimated at RM660mil,” he said.

Fadillah said his ministry had identified 215 hills that would need suitable landslide mitigation reinforcements.

He said the flood situation in Sarawak had improved and the state Public Works Department was now compiling damage reports for the ministry.

On the road between Limbang and Brunei, which was submerged last week, Fadillah said it was only upgraded five years ago.

“But, clearly that was inadequate,” he said.

Scores of commuters were left stranded on both sides of the border when the road was inundated.

“We increased the road height based on previous flood levels, but we will still need to raise it further,” he added.

The National Security Council reported that there were still 2,761 evacuees at 14 relief shelters across Sarawak as at noon yesterday.

In Kuching, although all relief centres were closed on Friday, two were reopened early yesterday to house 187 evacuees following a downpour.