PETALING JAYA: The federal government has announced an additional RM15 billion for flood mitigation projects between 2023 and 2030.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Cabinet decided to approve the budget in light of the recent floods.
Before this, he said, only RM1 billion had been set aside for mitigation projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025).
In a statement, Ismail also said the government has agreed to continue with 19 additional work packages for the Pan Borneo Highway.
He said progress on the highway is currently at 52% and is estimated to be completed by October 2024.
He also announced that the Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) project will be continued.
It was previously reported that the government had the intention to continue with the MRT3 project that had been suspended by the Pakatan Harapan administration.
The MRT3, or MRT Circle Line project, is expected to involve about 30 stations and 10 interchanges, covering the parameters of Kuala Lumpur and making one round from Bukit Kiara to University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
He said priority will be given to local contractors for the projects, in particular Bumiputeras, to create more business and job opportunities for them.
Last month, environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the country might need to spend RM300 billion until 2100 for flood mitigation measures.
He told a special parliamentary sitting that the measures would include the building of embankments and dykes and the prevention of coastal erosion.
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