Ministry: Govt has spent over RM1bil for Penang flood mitigation projects

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Government has spent RM1.04bil on flood mitigation projects in Penang from 2006 to 2016, says the Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Ministry.

According to the ministry, the sum was spent from the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) up to the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020).

“The sum was spent after taking into account the design, job scopes, site requirements and other factors during the commencement of the project,” it said in a written reply to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan) in Parliament on Monday.

Lim, also the Penang Chief Minister, had asked the ministry to state the total amount spent from the RM2.157bil allocated by the Federal Government for flood mitigation projects in the state.

He had also questioned why only RM443mil was spent from the total allocation.

The ministry said the Federal Government had allocated a total sum of RM2.157bil for such projects in Penang since the Fifth Malaysia Plan (1986-1990) until the 11th Malaysia Plan.

"Although RM2.157bil was allocated for flood mitigation projects in the state, it doesn't mean that the entire sum was spent.

"The RM2.157bil refers to the projected initial ceiling costs that needed to be spent for the commencement of the projects," the ministry said.

Many areas in Penang are flooded after heavy rains started lashing the island on Saturday (Nov 4).

About 6,000 people are being housed in evacuation centres, and seven casualties have been reported so far.