KUCHING: An integrated river basin management study is being conducted on nine river basins in Sarawak to develop comprehensive management plans, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said the Irrigation and Drainage Department is undertaking the study, which includes the Batang Rajang basin in central Sarawak.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the study is expected to be completed next August, with its findings used to develop an action plan to help the Sarawak government manage its rivers in a more integrated, systematic and continuous manner.
“This effort is vital to ensure water resources are safeguarded, flood risks are minimised and development is carried out with due consideration for community well-being and environmental sustainability,” he said at the national-level World Rivers Day celebration at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang in Sibu yesterday.
Fadillah reiterated his ministry’s commitment to raising awareness of river preservation, conservation and management.
Among the initiatives introduced this year is the National River Trail programme, which is being implemented nationwide, including in Sarawak.
Fadillah said he hoped the facilities would be used as recreational spaces, environmental education hubs and ecotourism sites, while encouraging the public to help protect river areas.
The ministry’s commitment was also reflected in its development and water management projects, he said.
Under Rolling Plan 1 of the 13th Malaysia Plan, a total of RM7.4bil has been allocated for 46 water-related projects in Sarawak, comprising 33 extension projects and 13 new projects.
Of the total, RM5.8bil is for projects implemented by the department, including flood mitigation, river conservation and coastal erosion protection.
The choice of Sibu as the host city holds special significance for Fadillah, who grew up there and recalled childhood memories of splashing and fishing in the Batang Igan, a tributary of the Batang Rajang.
He said the celebration was particularly meaningful as Sibu had grown alongside the Batang Rajang, which had long been integral to the lives, history and development of the Sarawakian community.
“It is no wonder that a celebration centred on rivers resonates so closely with the people here,” he added.
