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THE government has approved three major projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMKe-12), with a total cost of RM182.5 million to mitigate the worsening coastal erosion along Terengganu's shoreline.
The Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said today as part of the long-term solution to coastal erosion, PETRA, through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) have stepped up efforts to address the phenomenon of coastal erosion which is driven by several factors, including the impact of waves, tidal currents, rising sea levels, climate change, and human activities.
“This erosion threatens critical infrastructure, particularly the coastal roads, he said, adding, to address this issue comprehensively and effectively, PETRA is adopting an integrated approach which includes both structural and non-structural measures.
“These measures aim to ensure long-term coastal stability and reduce the risk of erosion, which could affect local communities and coastal development,” Fadillah said.
He explained, the first project focuses on controlling coastal erosion at Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, with a budget of RM69.91 million. This project began on July 24, 2023, and is expected to be completed by September 23, 2026.
“As of now, the project is 22.3% complete, and its main scope includes the construction of 16 offshore breakwater structures and beach nourishment work along a 2-kilometer stretch, Fadillah, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said in the Dewan Negara today.
The second and third projects are still in the pre-implementation stage and involve coastal erosion control at Geliga, Kemaman, and Kuala Paka, Dungun.
These projects will involve the construction of coastal erosion control structures, such as beach nourishment and offshore breakwater structures. Physical construction for these two projects is expected to begin in early 2027, he explained.
The ministry’s efforts aim to address the critical issue of coastal erosion, safeguard important infrastructure, and ensure that resources are available for the effective maintenance of roads affected by natural events.
“In addition to the structural measures, PETRA has also adopted non-structural approaches.
“In 2022, the ministry completed the Integrated Shoreline Management Plan (ISMP) for Terengganu, which helps identify critical erosion zones and their impact on infrastructure, including coastal roads.
“Along with this, the ministry has conducted long-term mitigation strategies, such as the potential relocation of roads or the construction of additional protection measures while providing guidelines to the state government and local authorities to ensure more sustainable coastal development,’ Fadillah said, in reply to a question raised by Senator Che Alias Hamid on the ongoing issue of coastal erosion that is causing significant damage to roads along the shoreline in Terengganu.
Che Alias had also asked the minister to provide a long-term solution to address the erosion problem and clarify the status of applications under the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS) to resolve these issues.
Regarding the status of funding for MARRIS, Fadillah said, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) has provided guidelines for the maintenance of state roads under the MARRIS system, which is governed by Article 109(1)(b) of the Federal Constitution.
“The state governments are required to register all state roads in MARRIS, which categorises them into seven types: state roads, municipal roads, residential roads, back lane roads, tourist island roads, village roads, and agricultural roads.
“And, the state governments are authorised to maintain all roads registered in the MARRIS system, subject to the road category and maintenance scope, including preventive measures as outlined in the MARRIS 4.0 guidelines (effective from October 1, 2024).
He added, MOF had informed all state governments of the directive issued in a meeting on March 9, 2022, regarding the use of MARRIS funds for repairing state road infrastructure damaged by floods, remains in effect. – March 11, 2025