KUALA LUMPUR: Six out of 21 projects to overcome issues stemming from high tides and coastal erosion are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, says Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
He said the project, implemented by the ministry through the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID), involved eight states on the West Coast of the peninsula, namely Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Johor, with a total cost of RM200mil.
"The main scope of the project is the construction and upgrading of tyre (reefs) as well as coastal erosion control structures. A total of 21 projects are under implementation and six of them will be completed this year while other projects will be completed by 2027," he said.
He said this during the winding up debate on the Motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Royal Address, for his ministry in the Dewan Negara on Tuesday (March 11).
In Sabah and Sarawak, he said the ministry through DID had also implemented the Coastal Flood Mitigation Project with a total cost of RM419mil, aimed at reducing the risk of coastal flood overflow to residential areas, protecting property and agricultural areas.
Commenting on the issue of dam safety, Akmal Nasrullah said a total of 10 physical and non-physical projects with a total cost of RM501mil were approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), aimed at ensuring the safety of 16 dams nationwide.
"Among the main scopes of these projects are upgrading dam safety facilities and equipment, maintaining volume to increase the effectiveness of dam flood functions, including conducting safety and management studies," he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, when winding up the debate for his ministry, said a total of 546 digital agriculture systems have been installed across the country in subsectors of agriculture, acquaculture and breeding.
"The installation of this IOT (internet of things) and AI (artificial intelligence)-based digital agriculture system shows that it can contribute to an increase in income by 20% and reduce operating costs by up to 30%," he said.
On the issue of foreign fishermen's vessels encroaching into the country's irrigation, he said the ministry was currently examining additional amendments to the Fisheries Act 1985 to further strengthen the country's fisheries laws.
"This amendment will focus on stricter action against encroachments on control of local vessels as well as strengthening enforcement aspects in the country's waters," he said. – Bernama
