Mohamad Fazli: RM2.6bil approved for 15 projects.
Ten flood mitigation projects in four Johor districts are expected to be completed by 2027.
State works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said this was despite several challenges, including the discovery of an old bomb and historical burial grounds.
“There are 11 flood mitigation projects in Segamat, Muar, Kota Tinggi and Batu Pahat (districts), with 10 in progress and one in the design phase.
“Of the two projects in Segamat, one encountered an issue with an old bomb found on the riverbank of Sungai Gatom in Labis.
“We have sought assistance from the relevant authorities, including Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, Home Ministry, police and National Security Council, to ensure the site is safe,” he said, adding that bomb disposal work was expected to be finished by June next year.
He said this in a press conference on the sidelines of the Johor state assembly sitting in Kota Iskandar.
Mohamad Fazli added that 307 old graves were identified at one of the sites in Kota Tinggi, including gravestones from Aceh, Indonesia, believed to belong to early nobility.
“Relocation of the graves is being carried out with the Johor Islamic Religious Council and kadi’s office.
“A fatwa has been issued to ensure the process complies with syariah guidelines.
“It is expected to be completed before February next year.”
Ten projects were ahead of schedule, while the 11th involving Sembrong Dam in Kluang was experiencing a delay due to a design revision, he said.
“The dam currently channels water to Sembrong Water Treatment Plant.
“Due to a change in function, water cannot be released according to schedule.
“A new design is needed. The delay is not caused by floods, but by safety and dam durability factors,” Mohamad Fazli said of the projects which involved an allocation of about RM2.3bil.
Four more projects, he said, were recently approved, at Sungai Mengkibol, Sungai Sayong, Sungai Chaah and Sungai Masai.
“These four were just approved with a combined value of about RM300mil, bringing the total to RM2.6bil for 15 projects.”
