The Sungai Golok Delta Integrated Development Project, Phase Two, to tackle the flood problem in Kelantan, will be implemented soon.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the government had so far approved an allocation of RM879 million for the project.
“We are now waiting for the process of appointing a contractor to carry out the project, aimed at avoiding a major flood in the area during the monsoon season.
“Through a visit made together with the Environment and Water Ministry (KASA) for Phase One of the project, it is learned that the progress has reached 81.26% involving Pengkalan Kubor up to Sungai Lanchang, Pasir Mas.
“This is faster by about 35% of that actually scheduled and involving an allocation of RM656 million. Based on the plan, it is expected to be completed by April 2024 but we not dismiss the possibility of it being ready by 2023.”
Mustapa said this to reporters on Sunday (Aug 14) after visiting the Kelantan State Development Department at the common-use building in Tunjang here, which houses the federal departments.
He said for the implementation of Phase Three of the project, it was still being studied by KASA, although in principle, it had been agreed upon and the matter would be finalised soon.
“When the three phases are completed, the flood problem in Kelantan can be largely solved,” Bernama Reported him saying.
On his visit to the project development site of the federal departments, Mustapa said it had recorded a construction status of 4% earlier from that scheduled.
“This building project costing RM576 million started in June 2020, and is expected to be completed by July 2024 with four eight-storey office blocks.
“There will also be an auditorium, a multi-purpose hall, food court, nursery and kindergarten, security block and multi-storey parking, with the complex replacing Wisma Persekutuan in Jalan Bayam here,” he added.
Meanwhile, The Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation is seen to have a positive effect, especially in reducing the price of controlled goods during the current inflation faced by the country, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
He said the setting up of the task force has a beneficial impact in dealing with inflation, especially in relation to enforcement involving cooking oil leading to a decrease in the price of the controlled item.
“Inflation is a problem faced by the world today. Alhamdulillah, in these past few weeks we have found that the world’s inflation seems to have reduced a little and it may have a good effect on Malaysia,” he said.
He said this to reporters after visiting the Federal Department joint-use building at the Kelantan State Development Office near Tunjung here on Sunday (Aug 14).
Elaborating, Mustapa, who is also a member of the task force, said that meetings are held twice a week to discuss various issues by involving various ministries, adding that this seems to work very well, as all measures and actions can be done in a more focused manner and given priority.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob recently mentioned that the supply of chicken has also become stable and the selling price is also lower than the set ceiling price which is RM9.40 per kilogramme,” he said.
The government is also considering requests from poultry farmers to resume exporting chickens to Singapore, he said. However, the matter, which will be reviewed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries, has yet to be decided.
