Sarawak Coastal Flood Mitigation Project In Procurement Phase - PETRA

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage is implementing the Coastal Flood Mitigation Project in Sarawak under the 12th Malaysia Plan with a total cost of RM316 million.

Its Deputy Minister, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, said the project covers 17 locations across six divisions, namely Kuching, Betong, Mukah, Miri, Limbang and Samarahan, with the primary focus on constructing coastal flood protection structures and erosion control.

“This project will protect 32.9 kilometres of coastline from flooding, thereby reducing property damage and loss of life.

“Currently in the procurement process, this project will utilise the design-build method, with works expected to commence in October 2025 and the project execution will be five years,” he said during the question-and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to a question from Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis) regarding the ministry’s plan to tackle the severe coastal erosion due to sea waves damaging the coastal agricultural land along the coastline of Sarawak.

Akmal Nasrullah said the ministry is also adopting a non-structural approach through the implementation of two Integrated Shoreline Management Plans (ISMP) in Sarawak.

He said the first plan, the Kuching-Betong ISMP, involves the coastline in the Kuching, Samarahan and Betong divisions and was completed in 2020.

“The second plan, the Sarikei-Limbang ISMP,  is set to be completed this year and involves the coastline in the Sarikei and Limbang divisions, including Pulau Bruit,” he said.

To a supplementary question from Yusuf regarding the proposal to construct a breakwater at Pantai Belawai, Tanjong Manis to mitigate erosion, Akmal Nasrullah said this matter would require prior study and analysis.

“When we look at coastal erosion issues, we divide them into three categories: first, the critical category, which involves erosion exceeding four metres within a year; second, the moderate category, with one to four metres annually; and third, the less critical category, with one metre per year.

“To build a breakwater or other structures, such as rock revetment or embankments, we must consider prior studies and also review any existing plans at the Sarawak government level,” he said.

-- BERNAMA