By Shikin Louis & Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Dec 31: Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian intends to propose a rethink of the RM2 billion Sarawak River Bypass Canal project to better protect Batu Kawah and downstream areas from flooding.
The high-impact project, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, involves constructing an 8km new river canal, with 2km starting from the South China Sea.
Dr Sim, who is also Batu Kawah assemblyman, suggested that starting the bypass from Batu Kawah instead could improve water flow and help prevent flooding in both his constituency and downstream areas.
“I want to speak to Datuk Amar Fadillah so that the project can start from Batu Kawah and flow downwards, instead of beginning from the South China Sea.
“If it is not started right, it’s not only my area that will be affected, but downstream areas like Batu Kitang and Petra Jaya too,” he told reporters after visiting flood victims at Kampung Sinar Budi Baru temporary evacuation centre (PPS) here today.
He also expressed his appreciation to Fadillah for his bold vision in undertaking the RM2 billion project.
In the past, Kuching was regularly inundated during king tides and heavy rain. This continued until the completion of the Sungai Sarawak Regulation Scheme (SSRS), which allows the State to control seawater from overflowing onto land during king tides.
However, heavy rain coinciding with king tides remains a challenge, as the barrage cannot be opened to discharge the excess water, leading to flooding in many areas.
On March 9, 2024, Fadillah announced that the federal government would build a canal to divert water from the Sarawak River to the Salak River, with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) tasked with its design. The canal is intended to manage floodwaters and gradually discharge them into the Salak River, effectively acting as a temporary reservoir.
On Aug 2, 2025, Fadillah updated the press that the Sarawak River Bypass Canal project—comprising a barrage, canal, and bridge at Sungai Salak—will cost nearly RM2 billion and is expected to begin in 2026. The project will involve several federal ministries, including the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and the Ministry of Works. – DayakDaily
