KUALA LUMPUR: 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, stated that the project spans 17 locations across six divisions, namely Kuching, Betong, Mukah, Miri, Limbang, and Samarahan, focusing on constructing coastal flood protection structures and erosion control.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the project aims to safeguard 32.9 kilometers of coastline from flooding, reducing property damage and potential loss of life. Currently in the procurement phase, the project will employ the design-build method, with construction anticipated to commence in October 2025 and a projected duration of five years. This announcement was made by Nasrullah during a question-and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat.
Responding to a query from Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis) conc
erning the ministry’s strategy to address severe coastal erosion affecting agricultural lands in Sarawak, Nasrullah indicated that the ministry is also implementing non-structural measures, such as two Integrated Shoreline Management Plans (ISMP) in Sarawak. The Kuching-Betong ISMP, involving the coastline in Kuching, Samarahan, and Betong divisions, was completed in 2020, while the Sarikei-Limbang ISMP, targeting the Sarikei and Limbang divisions including Pulau Bruit, is expected to conclude this year.
Nasrullah also addressed a supplementary question from Yusuf regarding the proposal to build a breakwater at Pantai Belawai, Tanjong Manis. He emphasized that such a proposal would necessitate prior study and analysis, noting that coastal erosion issues are categorized into critical, moderate, and less critical, based on the extent of erosion per year. Any construction, such as breakwaters, rock revetment, or embankments, would require careful consideration and alignment with existing plans at the Sarawak go
vernment level.