Three Johor districts will be given priority in implementing flood control projects

BATU PAHAT: Three districts in Johor, namely Kota Tinggi, Segamat and Batu Pahat, will be given priority in implementing flood mitigation plans (RTB), said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi

He said flooding with high water levels was detected in the three districts after sustained rains.

“We expect the projects will cost up to RM1 billion,” he said when met here today after visiting flood victims at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Medan Relief Center.

Today, during his visit to Segamat, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assured that the RTB projects are being advanced mainly in Johor to be operational in June this year.

Onn Hafiz expressed his gratitude for the announcement and said several issues could be quickly resolved with the move.

Onn Hafiz also visited the Sekolah Kebangsaan Jenis (C) Chong Hwa relief center in Sri Medan, which has been hosting flood evacuees for the past two days, and it is understood the center will cease operations should water levels rise further.

In another development, the Menteri Besar said his office will investigate through relevant authorities claims by residents of Kuala Paya, Segamat that cracks in the embankment at Spang Loi nearby have caused rapid water surge in the area.

He said RM5 million in funds had been allocated for the dam repair works and the bidding process would be completed next month.

“This (tender) will also be resolved immediately and the authorities will investigate the (broken embankment) issue,” he said.

In January last year, the Spang Loi Dam, which was completed in 2019, collapsed, causing floods in Kampung Spang Loi and surrounding villages when Sungai Muar began to overflow.

The Prime Minister at the time, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, announced an allocation of RM5 million to upgrade the dams in Kampung Spang Loi to deal with the flooding problems in the village and its surroundings. -Bernama