Kuala Lumpur: Six out of 21 projects aimed at addressing high tides and coastal erosion are anticipated to be completed by the end of this year, according to Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the projects, executed by PETRA through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), involve eight states on the West Coast of the peninsula, namely Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor. The total cost for these projects is RM200 million. The primary focus of the projects is the construction and upgrading of tyres and coastal erosion control structures. While six projects are set to be completed this year, the remaining ones are scheduled for completion by 2027.
Akmal Nasrullah made these remarks during the winding-up debate on the Motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Royal Address for his ministry in the Dewan Negara. In addition to these efforts, PETRA, through DID, has implemented the Coastal Flood Mitigation Project in Sabah and Sarawak, costing RM419 million. This project aims to mitigate the risk of coastal flooding in residential, property, and agricultural areas.
On the topic of dam safety, the Deputy Minister highlighted that 10 physical and non-physical projects with a total cost of RM501 million have been approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). These projects aim to ensure the safety of 16 DID dams nationwide, focusing on upgrading dam safety facilities and equipment, maintaining volume, and conducting safety and management studies.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, also addressed the Dewan Negara, stating that 546 digital agriculture systems have been installed across the country in agriculture, aquaculture, and breeding subsectors. These IoT and AI-based systems have contributed to a 20 percent increase in income and a reduction in operating costs by up to 30 percent.
Kurup also touched on the issue of foreign fishermen’s vessels encroaching into the country’s waters. He mentioned that the ministry is considering amendments to the Fisheries Act 1985 to strengthen the country’s fisheries laws, focusing on stricter actions against encroachments and enhancing enforcement in the country’s waters.