Sungai Golok dredging, RM3bil project to ease Kelantan floods

Kota Bharu: The RM3.044 billion Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project, which includes the RM22 million dredging of the estuary, commenced on September 6th. This initiative aims to enhance river flow into the sea, thereby mitigating flood risks in Kelantan. Kelantan's Department of Irrigation and Drainage director, Datuk Dr Siti Fairus Zakaria, reported that the project is one of several flood mitigation measures being carried out concurrently with infrastructure improvements to increase drainage capacity and safeguard flood-prone regions.

The federal government's allocation for the project comprises Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the Sungai Golok PLSB, directed at protecting vulnerable areas in Pasir Mas and Tumpat from flooding. Additionally, the Sungai Golok PLSB entails the construction of a dual-purpose wall to serve as a flood barrier and improve safety, although this aspect remains in the design and land acquisition phase.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, also Finance Minister, revealed during the 2027 Budget presentation that Phase 2 of the project would be among the flood mitigation initiatives implemented the following year. The Sungai Golok river basin, particularly susceptible to overflow during the monsoon season, is a focal point for the federal government's intensified efforts to bolster flood defense measures.