KOTA BHARU: A new bridge will be built in Pengkalan Kubor near here as part of the Government’s planned projects on long-term solutions to flood woes in the East Coast.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said state Umno leaders had raised the issue of the slow-moving flow of river water at Jalan Kesban in Kampung Nibong there.
“They suggested a bridge be built at a suitable section of Sungai Golok to avoid what the Kelantanese call air termenung.
“I have accepted the suggestion and I will ask the Drainage and Irrigation Department and the Public Works Department to conduct a study on which area is best for such a bridge,” he told reporters after visiting the SK Bunohan flood relief centre in Tumpat here yesterday.
Najib said once the study had been completed, he would provide an allocation for it at once.
“A new bridge here, I believe, is estimated to cost between RM9mil and RM10mil, but it will be worthwhile to alleviate the problems of the rakyat in Kelantan,” he added.
Najib also said a number of schools here, which had acted as flood relief centres, would be upgraded as part of the flood management project in Kelantan.
He added that some schools had the capacity to house entire communities, but were in need of better facilities.
“These schools should have extra toilets and shower areas, and we will provide allocations for selected schools for a start,” Najib said.
He said that once the shortlist of potential schools had been done and the project implemented, more schools in the state would be considered for the upgrading works.
On the current flood management efforts, he congratulated the National Disaster Monitoring Agency (Nadma) for coordinating with all government agencies to alleviate flood-related problems.
“Based on my observation today, there is good cooperation between Nadma, police, Fire and Rescue Department, Rela, the Civil Defence Force and the Army.
“They are moving about in an orderly and well-coordinated manner, and this means fewer issues to worry about,” he said.
Najib also spent time visiting flood victims housed at two schools in Kuala Terengganu.
SK Banggol Peradong has 460 victims while SK Bukit Guntong in Kuala Nerus housed 422 people.
One of the evacuees, Juliza Jusoh, 32, whose house was flooded on Thursday, said she was touched that Najib stopped by to talk to the victims.
“My husband made a raft out of a lorry tyre tube and planks of plywood,” said Juliza.
“He used it to push our family members to the main road about 100m away.”
Source: The Star | Nation | 8 Jan. 2017
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