By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 19: The Kuching flood mitigation projects, which involve drainage upgrades at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Jalan Batu Lintang and Kuching Federal Workers’ Quarters, are finally set for implementation after an almost eight-year wait, following the successful appointment of a contractor.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan revealed that the contractor’s appointment marked the beginning of the projects under Sungai Sarawak Intergrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB) Package 2, which are expected to be completed within two years.
“This will help mitigate flash flooding due to heavy rain in these flood-prone areas, particularly at SGH, Jalan Batu Lintang and the Federal Quarters along Jalan Durian Burung,” she said in a statement posted on her social media page today.
Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak director Datu Ir Ahmad Denney Ahmad Fauzi handed over the projects to the appointed contractor after a meeting at the DID Office today, which was attended by Kho, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap and Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.
Kho expressed satisfaction and relief that these projects, initially approved prior to 2016 under the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP), are finally moving forward simultaneously after much delay, thanks to the persistent efforts of numerous Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) lawmakers and local councils.
“The collaborative efforts of Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and Federal Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad have been instrumental in expediting the implementation,” she added.
Furthermore, these projects fulfilled one of Kho’s commitments from her election manifesto for a flood-free Bandar Kuching, despite her unsuccessful bid for the Bandar Kuching seat in the 2018 General Election under the SUPP banner.
The PLSB Sungai Sarawak project, with a budget cap of RM150 million, was approved under the 11MP to address longstanding flood issues in Kuching and Samarahan.
However, it underwent review by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government after the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018. After considerable delay, the project received clearance to resume in 2020.
The scope of work includes the development of wide detention ponds at Jalan Batu Lintang, Jalan Durian Burung, and near SGH, which will also serve as public walking parks. Additionally, the project involves dredging and deepening of the Tabuan River and construction of flood barriers at identified vulnerable areas. — DayakDaily
