Tuan Ibrahim quizzes govt on scrapping projects that haven't begun

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man today questioned the government's claim of as much as RM2 billion saved through the scrapping of flood mitigation projects, saying that in some cases, these projects had yet to begin.

Speaking during the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat, the Kubang Kerian MP referred to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's announcement last week of the termination of six flood mitigation projects. 

Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the country could save RM2 billion of the RM15 billion allocation for flood mitigation, the procurement of which must be done through tenders. 

He said the six projects would be retendered by June, naming the flood mitigation plan for Sungai Johor, Kota Tinggi; the construction of a dual-purpose reservoir for flood mitigation and raw water supply source at Sungai Rasau and Sungai Klang; and the development of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Phase 3 in Kelantan.

Tuan Ibrahim, the former environment and water minister, asked how these projects would be ended given that they had yet to begin. 

"Tambun (Anwar) mentioned Phase 3 of the  Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin. Phase 2 hasn't even begun yet, and a contractor has yet to be appointed for Phase 3. 

"How will savings be made from this?" he asked. 

Likewise, he said, no contractor had yet been appointed for the dual-purpose reservoir at Sungai Rasau.

"This hasn't been carried out yet and is still under the finance ministry," he said, urging Anwar to clarify the matter in the Dewan Rakyat. 

"During the last session, the prime minister saw the allocation of RM1 billion given as most of these delayed projects were from the Ninth Malaysia Plan," he said. 

Tuan Ibrahim also advised against any changes to the plans implemented by the previous administration, saying these always lead to losses for the country.  

"If we postpone these projects, the government will suffer losses instead of saving because the costs will increase and bring effects every time the flood season hits. 

"The country loses RM6 billion to RM7 billion every time there are floods," he said.