Federal govt allocates RM1.46b for eight flood mitigation projects in Melaka

The federal government has allocated RM1.46 billion for eight flood mitigation projects in Melaka, set to run from 2021 to 2026. These projects, coordinated by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, aim to improve protection for residents in flood-prone areas by reducing flood risk and impact. Melaka's Department of Irrigation and Drainage director, Mohd Adnan Ahmad Fauzi, highlighted that these initiatives form part of a joint effort between federal and state governments to combat flooding.

The projects include the Alor Gajah Flood Mitigation Plan (Phase 1), Bandar Jasin RTB, Bandar Merlimau RTB, Sungai Putat RTB, Sungai Duyong RTB, and the upgrade of the Krubong-Durian Tunggal Flood Mitigation Pond into a dual-purpose facility. Currently, five projects are expected to be fully completed by the end of 2027, while one is targeted for completion in 2030.

The two pre-implementation projects, Melaka River Flood Mitigation Project (Phase 1) and Sungai Baru RTB in Alor Gajah, are in the design phase. Despite no projects being fully completed, data released by JPS and the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has shown a decrease in flood hotspots from 157 in 2021 to 106 in 2022.

Once all projects are completed, over 50,000 residents are expected to be protected from flood risks. The effectiveness of these projects is assessed using flood monitoring data, including frequency, duration, and depth of flooding, affected areas, and rainfall data, monitored by the Melaka Water Resources and Hydrology Management Division and PRABN.

The approach to flood mitigation in Melaka has shifted from solely focusing on river widening to integrated river basin management, considering climate change patterns and extreme rainfall events. Flood mitigation projects in Melaka include constructing flood retention ponds, upgrading rivers, and enhancing pump stations, such as the upcoming Sungai Baru Flood Mitigation Project in Masjid Tanah, which plans to build four flood retention ponds.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage is also leveraging digital technology and real-time data for early forecasting and faster response times. Additionally, the project for RM145 million in flood mitigation is being considered by the Ministry of Economy under the First Rolling Plan (RP1) of the 13th Malaysia Plan.