{
  "id": 19744489,
  "title": "Puluhan tahun dihantui banjir, penduduk Belimbing Dalam sandar harapan pada projek RM603.7 juta",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/puluhan-tahun-dihantui-banjir-penduduk-belimbing-dalam-sandar-harapan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T01:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2026/11/13/puluhan-tahun-dihantui-banjir-penduduk-belimbing-dalam-sandar-harapan-pada-projek-rm603-7-juta"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For decades, flooding has plagued residents of Kampung Belimbing Dalam, who have been relying on hope for the RM603.7 million RM project. The Kolam Krubong–Durian Tunggal reservoir serves as a barrier against flooding risks and stores raw water. Four to five times a year, homes in the area suffer flooding, but for 66-year-old Zakaria Naim, moving is not an option due to financial constraints. Born in the village, Zakaria has watched the situation worsen, with his home flooded nearly 16 times in 2006. \"When it rains, it feels like a celebration. There's nothing to do. The most important thing is to protect our family first, then our belongings,\" he told FMT. Zakaria, like many other residents, fears the loss of their possessions, as water levels exceeded 1 meter in 2011, damaging furniture and electrical appliances. He remembers losing 25 sheep that year due to cold-related illness, and often sleeping in his cart to guard his belongings during floods. Now, he prepares timber and sand to raise his possessions whenever flooding occurs. Living with his five children, he worries about their safety each time a disaster strikes. Cleaning up after a flood also takes several days, as the house is flooded with dirty water and mud, and the smell lingers for nearly a month, affecting his business. However, Zakaria believes that flooding in the village is decreasing due to the ongoing work on the Krubong–Durian Tunggal Elevated Flood Reservoir Project. The RM603.7 million dual-purpose project began in August 2022 and is expected to be completed by 2030 to enhance flood protection in the high-risk area. Managed by the Water and Sewer Department (JPS), the project combines flood detention and raw water storage for national supplies. The reservoir will store excess water during heavy rain before releasing it into the Durian Tunggal Dam. The project includes excavation and raising the reservoir, constructing flood control structures, widening the river, and providing inlet and outlet channels to regulate water flow. It is one of eight flood-prone dike projects in Melaka valued at RM1.46 billion for 2021-2026, approved by the federal government. Other seven projects include Alor Gajah Phase 1 Flood Reservoir Design (RTB), Bandar Jasin, Bandar Merlimau, Bandar Duyong, Sungai Putat, and Sungai Melaka Phase 1, while Alor Gajah Sungai Baru is still in the planning stage. For Zakaria, the change is welcome, and the villagers are grateful that the government is taking action to help them. \"We are thankful. The government has taken it seriously. The village community has always raised this issue, and now the government is taking steps to assist the Belimbing Dalam residents,\" he said. Siti Hawiah Marsum, 64, also expressed hope that the situation will improve, as her husband had a mild stroke, and they live with a 30-year-old disabled son. The flooding has decreased significantly since she moved to the village six years ago. \"Before I lived here, it flooded almost every year. Now, it doesn't flood, thank God,\" she said.",
  "summary": "Projek kolam dwifungsi Krubong–Durian Tunggal yang dijangka siap pada 2030 diharap mengurangkan risiko banjir sekian lama menghantui penduduk.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}