RM1 billion flood, coastal erosion allocation remains under 11th Malaysia Plan, says Wan Junaidi

The RM1.07 million allocation under the 11th Malaysia Plan to overcome coastal erosion and flooding in Terengganu remains, as announced earlier. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said after referring the problems faced by Terengganu to the federal government, the latter agreed not to cut the amount approved to build a flood mitigation system and breakwaters to prevent further erosion at the affected areas. "The RM1.07 million allocated will not be affected although there have been reports of a cut," he told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the federal and Terengganu governments on a conservation programme at the Kenyir Elephant Conservation Village (KECV), in Hulu Terengganu, today. On his working visit to the state, Wan Juanidi also announced an allocation of RM29.5 million for the flood mitigation project in Hulu Terengganu, RM10 million for the breakwater project in Kuala Terengganu, near the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) area, building of the Gong Kiat environment-friendly drainage system (RM7 million and a similar system at Guntung Luar, Setiu (RM5 million). According to him, all these projects would be implemented by the Terengganu Drainage and Irrigation Department and expedited to avoid a more serious situation. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman said the 244 coastal area from Kemaman to Besut was now facing serious erosion and thanked the federal government for being sensitive to the problem. He said as the beach areas were the main tourist attraction in Terengganu, hopefully the erosion preventive measure could proceed although the project required a big allocation, to avoid the state's tourism industry from being adversely affected. – Bernama, February 14, 2016.]]>