The newly completed Sungai Kemasik Flood Mitigation Plan brings hope to over 1,500 Kemasik residents ahead of the Northeast Monsoon.
CHUKAI: More than 1,500 residents across four villages in Kemasik, near here, hope that the Sungai Kemasik Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) project which reached full completion this year will help reduce flood risks in the area during the current Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season.
Abdul Nasir Muhamad, 54, chairman of the Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) for Kampung Baru Kemasik, saId the four affected villages, Kampung Baru, Kampung Baru Kiri, Bukit Kukuran, and Gong Cengal have historically been prone to frequent flooding, especially during the monsoon season.
He noted that the project has brought relief to residents who have long endured flood disasters, which often resulted in losses due to damage to their homes and personal property.
He added that some residents were previously forced to relocate to temporary evacuation centrea (PPS) for several days whenever floodwaters inundated their homes, in order to ensure the safety of themselves and their families.
“The RTB project, developed by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), underwent improvements before being fully completed this year. It is hoped that this will mitigate flood risks in the area, for the well-being of the residents,” he told reporters here today.
A resident, Minah Abdullah, 57, from Kampung Baru Kiri, shared that the construction of the project has been well-received by the local community, particularly by those living in areas frequently hit by floods.
She mentioned that, in the past, her home would be inundated by floodwaters every year, forcing her, her family, and other residents to evacuate to the temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kemasik.
In this regard, she expressed hope that flooding in the village would no longer be as severe as it has been in the past once the project is fully completed.
“The residents hope that the Sungai Kemasik flood mitigation project (RTB) which entails a significant investment will function more effectively to prevent the recurring annual floods,” she said.
Mohd Raffi Yusoff, 59, from Kampung Gong Cengal, noted that his house is located near the Sungai Kemasik river, leaving it prone to frequent flooding during the monsoon season.
“Following heavy rainfall and during high tide, the Sungai Kemasik river overflows into the low-lying areas of the village, causing residents’ homes to become submerged.
“Nevertheless, we hope that this flooding issue will be mitigated once the project is completed, providing relief to residents who have long faced the threat of floods every monsoon season,” he said.
Meanwhile, Terengganu’s Infrastructure, Utilities, and Rural Development Committee chairman, Datuk Hanafiah Mat, said the RM47.03 million Sungai Kemasik flood mitigation project commenced in 2023 and spans a seven-kilometre stretch of the river.
When contacted today, he explained that the project encompasses river deepening, the construction of embankments, retention ponds, and bridges, as well as the installation of flood control components.
“The implementation of this project aims to enhance the capacity of the river and drainage system to manage water flow, thereby reducing flood risks, safeguarding residents, and minimising damage to property and infrastructure in the Kemasik area and its surroundings,” he said.