KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government hopes the federal government will continue with the RM7 billion flood mitigation projects to help the people of Kelantan.

State Public Works, Infrastructure, Transport and Utilities Committee chairman Datuk Azami Mohd Nor said the state government hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also finance minister, would review the projects immediately as they urgently need to be implemented to solve flood issues in the state.

He said the projects must be implemented soon as they were approved under Rolling Plan 3 of the 12th Malaysia Plan.

He said the RM7 billion allocation involved two projects — Phase 2 of the Sungai Kelantan Integrated River Basin Development Project, which covers several areas in the state, and Phase 3 of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project in Jeli. 

"A main component of Phase 2 of the Sungai Kelantan project is the construction of breakwaters in Kuala Besar to improve the flow of the river.

"Another component is a plan to diver water from Sungai Kelantan via Sungai Seribong to prevent floods in Kota Baru.

"The projects include upgrading drainage systems. The projects have yet to start, but it is important to solve flood issues immediately as the people have been dealing with Sungai Kelantan and Sungai Golok overflowing for years.

"The state government hopes the prime minister will reconsider his decision," he said today.

He said stopping the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project was risky as the river often overflows in Bukit Bunga and Air Lanas in Jeli, causing floods in Rantau Panjang and Pasir Mas.

Former minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economic Affairs) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed refused to comment on the issue when contacted.