River Deepening for flood mitigation OR for the extraction and export of river sand? That is the concern that is raised, and the best solution is that the sand extracted should not be allowed to leave Malaysia - but should be used to raise low-lying areas to protect them from flood. (In fact, in the past, then Pahang government talked about giving the companies that clean rivers the right to extract and sell sand and mineral as a means to reduce cost incurred by the State government...https://www.thesundaily.my/archive/2061414-ITARCH408507 )
It is best that the State do this cleaning/maintenance of our rivers and waterways - which should be an on-going activity > so, giving the project to foreign corporations may not be WISE, as local authorities need to have the capacity and ability and 'know-how' to continously maintain our rivers and water-ways.
Does river deepening even reduce the impact of floods? Should not storm drains, water diversion systems to divert flood waters to temporary reservoirs or even back to the rivers avoiding residential and commercial properties, retainer walls, projects to raise roads, etc be more practical and effective.
Is logging(legal or illegal) to be blamed - river shallows because also by reason of debris from deforestation - how should debris from deforestation activities be dealt with? Politicians may not have the answers - so ask the Engineers and experts, who already knows what needs to be done.
Now, in Pahang, it seems some 'river deepening' and projects have been implemented, and it cost hundreds of millions of ringgit - the QUESTION IS HAS THESE PROJECTS BEEN EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE IMPACT OF FLOODS on residences and business areas? That is the answer that we seek, for, if not effective, then other plans need to be made.
In my opinion, local/State governments must consider approving development projects that means the filling up of swamps and other low-lying areas that previously served to reduce impacts of flooding to a wider area >>> approvals without considering the future impact of floods is not too smart.
In Pahang, some plans seem to have not taken off by reason of 'MONIES' - should the Federal Government also contribute to this projects to reduce flood impact?
Since, the PM stressed about projects to reduce flood impacts - there has been little reported news about this...Is nothing done, or are things being done but receiving little/or no media reporting?
FLASH FLOODS - well, it seems that the amount of water that rains bring is much larger than before - and, as such, we need to look at our Drains and Drainage Systems - do we need larger drains to cope with the increased amounts of water? Are Malaysian drains maintained by the Local Councils regularly - yes the responsibility of cleaning/maintaining drains fall with the Local Council/Government - when was the last time you saw the Council workers cleaning drains? Garbage collection happens regularly...grass cutting happens regularly - but what about drain cleaning as all of these drains come under the responsibility of Local Government too ...So, please complain to your Local Councillors - not MPs or ADUNs > Malaysians must know who is responsible for what?
Pahang Regent wants authorities to expedite works to clean, deepen rivers
KUANTAN, May 14 — Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today instructed the relevant authorities to expedite works to clean and deepen the rivers and drainage in the state that have become shallow due to sedimentation from previous floods.
He said the state and federal governments, especially the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) should work together in implementing the works, which must be done before the Northeast Monsoon season begins at the end of this year.
According to Tengku Hassanal, works also need to be expedited in Janda Baik, Bentong, where the shallowing river was the leading cause of flash floods involving five villages in the area on Wednesday (May 11), which included Kampung Sum-Sum, Kampung Cheringin and Kampung Chemperoh.
“I have also instructed that the implementation of the Sungai Bentong Flood Mitigation Plan project and the Environmentally Friendly Drainage Master Plan (PISMA) in Bentong be expedited, including the construction of a Telemetry Station and Flood Warning Station in the upstream area of Janda Baik,” he said in a media statement here. today.
The recent flash floods in Janda Baik had been due to unusually heavy rain measuring 87.5 millimetres (mm) that occurred for three hours beginning at 4 am.
Tengku Hassanal also visited flood victims in Janda Baik yesterday to present donations, besides surveying the site of the incident and listening to briefings on the immediate follow-up action on flood mitigation. — Bernama - Malay Mail, 14/5/2022
Government seeking long-term solutions to flood problem, says PM
- Nation
-
Saturday, 01 Jan 2022
PUTRAJAYA, Dec 31 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob addressing the 2022 New Year Special Message today. --fotoBERNAMA (2021) COPYRIGHT RESERVED
TEMERLOH: The government is focusing on seeking comprehensive long-term solutions to the flood problem to reduce risks and the number of affected locations in future disasters, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic).
The prime minister said this would be the main agenda of the National Disaster Management Committee once the post-flood operations were completed, and it would involve state governments, government ministries and agencies, as well as experts in related fields.
"We will seek out and discuss whatever modules that are suitable to resolve this problem, and if it cannot be implemented simultaneously throughout the country, focus will be given to districts or areas at high risk of flooding.
"A long-term plan involves huge costs but it helps to reduce the costs incurred by the government each time it floods.
"So far, we have spent RM1.4bil on aid alone and this amount is expected to increase because we have not yet received the full report on damage," he said.
Ismail Sabri said this plan for long-term solutions was discussed during the time of the Barisan Nasional government but it was not continued.
Among measures that could be taken to reduce the problem of floods were implementing more flood mitigation projects, deepening rivers and other waterways like in Kedah and building tunnels like Kuala Lumpur's SMART Tunnel for flood management in high-risk urban areas such as Shah Alam in Selangor
"For low-lying areas that are prone to flooding, we can revisit the flood resettlement programme implemented in the 1970s.
"This calls for discussions with state governments to identify suitable high grounds and the Federal government can help in terms of allocations," he said
Ismail Sabri said modules adopted by other countries could also be considered if suitable for implementation in Malaysia, including the "sponge city" concept used in China to help slow the flow of flood waters or the river dikes of the Netherlands.
The prime minister also expressed his gratitude to all parties, including government-linked companies (GLC), non-governmental organisations (NGO), volunteers and individuals who had not only extended aid to flood victims but also participated in post-flood operations.
On demands by certain quarters for the government to allow a RM10,000 one-off withdrawal under the Employees Provident Fund's i-Citra scheme although flood aid given had exceeded RM10,000, Ismail Sabri said he only wanted to protect the people's interests.
"... those who are not satisfied, who criticise will continue to behave this way on social media. Everyone has his own duty. I hope we will not be affected by the attacks because we are doing our duty. This will not deter me from continuing to do my work," he said.
Ismail Sabri said this at a media conference after presenting aid under the Keluarga Malaysia Flood Relief Mission, comprising compassionate aid of RM1,000 from the Federal government and RM500 from the Pahang government, and necessities to 600 heads of households affected by floods at Dewan MPT Dataran Datuk Bahaman in Lanchang here on Saturday (Jan 1).
Also present
were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Chief
Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Pahang state
secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak and state Tourism, Culture,
Environment, Plantation and Commodities Committee chairman Datuk Seri
Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin. - Star, 1/1/2022
Five projects to mitigate floods implemented in Pahang
KUANTAN: The Pahang government has implemented five flood mitigation plans (RTB) and integrated river basin development projects (PLSB) to tackle floods in the state.
State Basic Amenities, Public Delivery System and Innovations Committee chairman Datuk Seri Norol Azali Sulaiman said the projects were being carried out by the Irrigation and Drainage Department.
“These include the RTB phase two project in Bandar Pekan, the PLSB in Sungai Kuantan, phase one of the PLSB Sungai Semantan project in Temerloh which involves a RM50 million allocation and PLSB Sungai Jelai in Lipis costing RM45 million.
“The PLSB projects in Temerloh and Lipis are in the design stage,” he said at the Pahang legislative assembly sitting.
Norol Azali was replying to a question from Chiong Yoke Kong (DAP-Tanah Rata) who asked about the flood mitigation measures and projects taken by the state government in every district, as well as the implementation costs.On the Bandar Pekan RTB, Pekan, Norol Azali said the completed parts include the Sungai Pahang river levee construction which cost RM120 million.
The Pekan RTB also involved upgrading works of bunds in Selantan, Parit Utama, Sungai Air Hitam, construction of the Ketapang canal, control structures for Sungai Mat Dulang and Sungai Air Tawar as well as other related works, costing RM103 million.
Norol Azali said the Bandar Pekan RTB also included Parcel 2 for the construction of levees along Sungai Pahang and related works costing RM115 million.
“The Sungai Kuantan PLSB involves four packages which include upgrading Sungai Belat and constructing flood prevention structures, while the second package involves construction flood prevention bunds along Sungai Pandan and Sungai Kuantan in Bukit Rangin, now at the design stage.
“The third package involves construction flood prevention bunds in Sungai Kuantan in the Kampung Cenderawasih area and upgrading the existing bund in Kampung Sungai Isap, which are also at the design stage,” he said.
Norol Azali said four more projects involved the deepening of Sungai Kuantan from the river mouth to Kobat Dam here. – Bernama- NST, 19/11/2018
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