KUALA LUMPUR: More than RM200mil was channelled to state governments to ease the recent flood rescue operations, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the funds, channelled through the National Disaster Management Agency, were for all affected states and the territories of Sabah and Sarawak.
An additional RM22.5mil worth of food and logistics were also contributed by government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies through the Disaster Response Network (GDRN).
Anwar said 126 flood mitigation projects worth RM22.57bil have also been approved.
“74 are currently underway and 35 in the pre-implementation phase,” he said during Prime Minister Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Feb 25).
He said officers to the Chief Secretary to the Government oversee the progress of flood mitigation projects as they are a matter of public importance.
On the projects for Sungai Golok, which has three phases, Anwar said they will perform the works simultaneously instead of individually.
While this incurs additional expenditures, the Prime Minister said this can result in savings of up to RM1.7bil.
Phases 1 and 2 are already underway, with Phase 3 targeted to begin in either May or June.
Phase 3 was initially scheduled to only begin in 2027.
Explaining, Anwar said the speed of completing said works is also subject to how fast the land needed can be obtained.
“What’s important is that we complete the works faster but this also means the rate of obtaining the land needed must also be fast.
“Sometimes, it can take up to two years to obtain this and at the fastest, in a year,” he said.
Despite possible delays due to land issues, Anwar said preliminary works will be carried out by the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry led by Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
“We understand that the needed land could be in areas with residents or villages, hence we must negotiate appropriately.
“But, if we delay even more, floods can impact hundreds or thousands more,” he said.
He said former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra also helped in hastening flood mitigation projects across Sungai Golok, noting how the river crosses both Malaysia and Thailand.
Thaksin is also the informal adviser to Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship.
Anwar was responding to a question by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) who asked about government measures to handle floods during the monsoon alongside proactive solutions to effectively address flood-prone areas.
Anwar added that aid channelled through GDRN is managed by state governments or the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU).
“Non-governmental organisations recognised by the government also assist in ensuring food and services are swiftly distributed to victims.
“Government aid is meanwhile distributed according to those registered in temporary relief centres alongside cooperation with state governments and district offices,” he said.
