LUNDU: Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri G Palanivel kept his date to visit Santubong yesterday, to view infrastructure projects carried out by the state Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) with a standing request for more allocation.
WELCOME TO LUNDU: A local woman places a corsage onto Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri G Palanivel upon arrival in Lundu. Accompanying him during the visit is Deputy Home Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who is also Santubong MP.
Invited to make the working visit by Deputy Home Minister Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on the heel of the Santubong MP’s request for RM25 million allocation, the minister announced he would be seeking a RM35.4 million budget for the embankment projects.
Palanivel’s first port of call at the parliamentary constituency was Lundu, followed by Sematan and Buntal in Kuching.
In a press conference held at the Lundu Waterfront, Palanivel said his ministry had implemented various erosion protection projects on river banks, coastal erosion, flood mitigation and drainage works in P193 Santubong since the 9th Malaysian Plan (9MP).
“Up till now, RM23.3 million had been spent on eight projects and the last project completed was the Lundu Flood Mitigation Plan that began on Aug 7, 2012, and which was finished on Dec 16, 2013 at a cost of RM3.23 million.
He disclosed that among the scope of the project was to build river bank erosion protection with the use of reinforced concrete wall, walk paths and handrail 140 metres long, culverts and drains.
Palanivel also revealed that DID had been allocated RM2 million for 2014 and 2015 to implement projects to prevent coastal erosion at Kpg Pasir Panjang and the scope was to protect the 500-metre long coastline and the tender for the project will be out soon.
“At the same time, a total of RM650,000 had been allocated in 2014 to implement the project to protect from coastal erosion at the Tanah Hitam Muslim Cemetery Sematan, and river bank erosion protection at Semunin Jaya Surau in Lundu.
Palanivel said he will see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to secure a budget for eight more projects in Lundu, Sematan and Kampung Buntal, at a total of RM35.4 million. The projects cover waterfront extensions and embankment.
“This will (however) not be immediate as I need to get more details from the Santubong MP (Wan Junaidi) and this could be implemented in the 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP),” he said.
Palanivel (centre) and Wan Junaidi (left) listen to a briefing given by Chok (right) on DID projects in Lundu.
Palanivel also revealed that he had visited the parliamentary constituency of P200 Batang Sadong under MP Nancy Shukri about a similar nature of infrastructure projects and he hoped to get a budget for DID to expedite work there.
Meanwhiile, Santubong MP Junaidi was pleased that his area had won the attention and concern of the federal government and hoped all projects will be implemented amicably.
“Erosion in the coastal and river bank areas is a big threat to residents there and if not addressed properly and expeditiously, then we anticipate a lot more problems in the future and a huge threat to human life and properties,” Wan Junaidi said.
He added that Lundu is a unique town with big potential to expand, especially in tourism.
Lundu District Officer Hamsein Atar informed the ministers that Lundu, with an area of 1,963 sq km and a population of 35,000 people, had huge potential in tourism products and the kind of infrastructure sought will safeguard the coastline and river banks from erosion and uplift the social economic status of the area.
Among those present during the visit were Chief Secretary of Natural Resoucres and Environment Dato Sri Zoal Azha Yusof, director-general of DID Malaysia Datuk Ahmad Husaini Sulaiman, senior secretary for Natural Resources and Environmental Services Management Datin Junaidah Kamaruddin, deputy director of DID Sarawak Chok Moi Soon.