KOTA BHARU, Oct 28 — The dredging of the Sungai Golok estuary, costing RM22 million, was completed on September 6 and is expected to improve the flow of river water into the sea, helping to reduce flood risks in Kelantan.
Kelantan Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Director Datuk Siti Fairus Zakaria said the dredging was one of several mitigation measures being implemented alongside other infrastructure projects to improve drainage capacity and protect flood-prone areas.
She said the federal government was also implementing the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB), comprising Phases 1, 2 and 3, with a total allocation of RM3.044 billion to protect vulnerable areas in Pasir Mas and Tumpat.
“The project aims to reduce flood risks and protect local communities and agricultural areas that are vulnerable to flooding.
“The Sungai Golok PLSB also includes the construction of a dual-purpose wall that will serve as a flood barrier and provide a safety measure. However, this component is still at the design and land acquisition stage,” she told Bernama recently.
During the tabling of the 2027 Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also finance minister, announced that Phase 2 of the Sungai Golok PLSB in Kelantan would be among the flood mitigation projects to be implemented next year.
The project forms part of the federal government’s efforts to strengthen flood mitigation measures in the Sungai Golok river basin, which frequently experiences river overflow during the monsoon season. — Bernama
