RM500m for flood mitigation projects

KUALA LUMPUR: The estimated half a billion ringgit for flood mitigation in the 2018 Budget will be utilised by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to, among others, conduct a study on rainfall pattern and climate change.

Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Hamim Samuri said to effectively mitigate flood, the ministry would need to identify the changes in rainfall pattern.

He said in line with the government’s aspiration to sustain green development, the ministry would ensure that flood mitigation projects would be environment-friendly.

“We have to study the rainfall pattern for us to effectively mitigate floods.

“We will make sure that the projects are environment-friendly.

“This is in line with the government’s aspiration to sustain green development.”

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in announcing the budget yesterday, said RM517 million had been allocated for flood mitigation projects.

Allocation for the projects was one of four measures announced by Najib, who is also finance minister, to ensure a sustainable green development in the country.

Najib, who expressed shock over the Tanjung Bungah landslide tragedy, said in moving towards modernisation, the authorities should ensure that the sustainability of the country’s environment was well-preserved for the next generation of Malaysians.

Other measures under the sustainable green development plan included an allocation of RM5 billion to implement the Green Technology Financing Scheme.

He said RM1.4 billion would be allocated to implement the NonRevenue Water programme to reduce water wastage.

Najib said another RM1.3 billion would be used to build an offriver storage system as an alternative water source.