KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — Penang’s newest development woe, flash floods, will be addressed in the state budget to be unveiled next week, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today.
At the state DAP convention in Bukit Jambul, Penang, Lim admitted that flooding is the fly in the ointment to his Pakatan Harapan state administration’s achievements to date.
“Flash floods is a new challenge with unusually heavy rainfall. This will be addressed during the 2017 Budget on 15 November, especially on the need to press the Federal Government complete the final phase of the Sungei Pinang Flood Mitigation project costing RM350 million, that would overcome flash floods we saw on Deepavali,” Lim said in his speech, a copy which was emailed to Malay Mail Online.
More than 100 houses in the state were flooded in knee-deep water on October 30 when Penang was lashed by torrential rainstorms. Similar incidents took place in May and July this year.
Lim also admitted to the “failure” of the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to complete its flood mitigation projects after the previous incidents, saying one had yet to be implemented even after four years.
However, he expressed confidence that the “energetic” Penang DID director will resolve the problems.
Lim mentioned flash floods, traffic congestion and affordable housing as the main challenges in Penang currently.
Lim also said that despite recent spells of long droughts, the state is confident that it can continue having uninterrupted water supply until the year 2025.
