SEGAMAT: A RM5mil bund construction project to protect Segamat from floods has been approved, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

       He said many areas in Segamat are flood-prone while existing bunds are quite low.

       “During a briefing by the Johor Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID), it suggested the RM5mil new bund project to address the frequent flooding in Segamat, and I immediately approved it.

       “We decided to build new bunds rather than repair existing ones as a long-term solution. The new ones could last for about 20 years.

       “I will leave the technicalities to the department,” he said at a press conference after visiting the Kampung Tandong temporary flood relief centre in Buloh Kasap here yesterday.

       He added that DID will also prepare a comprehensive and long-term plan to solve the flood woes in Segamat, which includes the widening of Sungai Muar.

       “We will focus on the high-risk areas in the country first, and in Johor, it is Segamat, while for Pahang, it is Temerloh, and for Kelantan, Rantau Panjang.

       “We aim to handle the issues in these areas first and address other areas soon,” added Ismail Sabri.

       During the press conference, he also said the Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) must reach all flood victims in affected areas before they leave the temporary flood relief centres (PPS) they are in.

       “We do not want similar incidents to happen again where the victims only got the aid after three to six months.

       “The assistance could help to reduce their burden, especially as many have lost their belongings due to the flood,” he said, adding that all 26 heads of families at the Kampong Tandong flood relief centre were each given a RM1,000 cash aid from the federal government and RM500 from the Johor state government.

       He said the victims returning home in the next two or three more days would have all received the cash aid.

       “We expect the same thing to also happen at other PPS,” he added, referring to the BWI assistance which was given to flood victims in Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Terengganu and Perak, with the remaining payments expected to be completed today.

       On a separate issue, Ismail Sabri said a special Cabinet meeting today will discuss the possibility of a second wave of floods and post-flood activities.

       The Cabinet will also be briefed on the report from another meeting he chaired on Monday, attended by all mentris besar and chief ministers as well as the Inspector-General of Police and the Armed Forces chief.

       The Health Ministry is expected to brief the Cabinet about the Covid-19 situation in the country in relation to the Omicron variant as well as other matters including the umrah (pilgrimage), he said, adding that the ministry will also provide suggestions and action to be taken to handle the matter.