Taiping: The flood mitigation project in northern Perak, which involves the development of the Kerian Integrated Green Industrial Park (KIGIP), requires an additional allocation of approximately RM400 million, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. He explained that the project, developed by the private sector through Sime Darby, faces challenges due to the soft soil in the area and its location in a low-lying zone prone to frequent flooding.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the developer proposed constructing a levee to raise the river embankment to prevent overflow. However, comprehensive studies indicate that this measure would only address part of the area, not the entire region. Workshops concluded that integrating this project with other flood mitigation plans, namely the Sungai Samagagah project in Penang, combined with the current efforts at KIGIP, would be more appropriate.
Fadillah added that combining the projects would extend the flood mitigation coverage to a larger area, encompassing the entire northern part of Perak, including Kerian and surrounding areas. Regarding the project’s status, he mentioned that it is ongoing, but the ministry is awaiting the additional allocation submitted to the Ministry of Economy, which will only be determined under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
“This means we must wait for the upcoming budget approval before final decisions can be made. In the meantime, the project may proceed in phases under the existing framework,” Fadillah stated. Earlier, he launched the national-level World Rivers Day celebration at Sungai Batu Tegoh.
He also mentioned that the water transfer project from Sungai Perak to Bukit Merah Dam is expected to be implemented next year after obtaining Cabinet approval. The Ministry of Finance is finalizing arrangements as the project involves foreign funding. Additionally, Fadillah will receive a full report from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), which is closely monitoring the flood situation in the affected areas.
“The heavy and continuous rainfall is certainly a factor, but we need to understand why some areas that have never experienced flooding, including a police station, were suddenly inundated yesterday,” he said. He also visited three relief centres (PPS) in Taiping last night. Northern Perak was hit by flooding following heavy rainfall across the Larut, Matang, and Selama districts, prompting the opening of four PPS in Taiping to accommodate 202 people from 65 families.