KUCHING, Dec 6: Sarawakians will continue to suffer flash floods in this coming rainy season as many promised flash flood mitigation projects have not been delivered.
The approved allocation by the federal government was also not disbursed to the state to implement promised flash flood mitigation projects and measures, said Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.
“The flooding in Kuching over the last two days have showcased another year of lackluster performance in implementation of flood mitigation projects and measures by the federal and state government,” he said.
“Despite having a Sarawakian appointed as the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, he could not ensure that the federal government fully delivered the approved allocation for Sarawak. That is utterly unacceptable,” See, the state PKR vice-president, told a press conference today.
He hence called upon the said Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for an explanation as the flash floods have proved the budgetary promises by the federal government empty and unreliable.
He also called upon Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg to ensure that there will be better supervision and monitoring by the State Rural Transformation Cabinet Committee to ensure completion and delivery of the planned flash flood mitigation projects.
Referring to the answer given by the relevant Ministry in the last State Legislative Assembly sitting, See pointed out that only nine projects out of the promised 97 projects are completed and 7.3 per cent of the allocated funds expended.
The Cabinet Committee for Rural Transformation Initiative had allocated RM43.4 million to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to implement 97 flash flood mitigation projects in Sarawak in 2017.
Until Nov 2017, only nine projects were completed, with 49 projects in various stages of physical works and 39 projects still in their tendering stage.
Only 63 projects were expected to be completed this year, while 34 projects are expected to be completed next year. Only RM3.15 million or 7.3 per cent of the allocated funds were expended by November 2017.
See added that the actual allocation by the federal government to Sarawak was equally unsatisfactory and disappointing.
“For three years in 2015, 2016 and 2017, the actual allocation and expenditure by the federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Sarawak, was RM9.86 million, RM5.96 million and RM13.60 million respectively.”
See said that the actual expenditure was only 11.4 per cent in 2016 and 34.7 per cent in 2017 of the promised allocation.
He added that those sums actually given to Sarawak did not include the approved allocation under the 11th Malaysia Plan (RM11 million) and RM150 million for specific flash flood mitigation projects.
This includes Sarawak General Hospital, Batu Lintang area, Sungai Tabuan, Taman Unigarden. SK Muara Tuang, Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho, the former federal quarters at Batu Lintang and Jalan Ong Tinag Swee, dredging of Sungai Tabuan and Taman Malihah, of which none of the promised projects were carried out. — DayakDaily
