AG Report: East Coast not given priority over flood mitigation projects

KUALA LUMPUR: Some states, particularly those in the East Coast of the Peninsula, were not given priority in the implementation of the Flood Mitigation Projects (FMP), the Auditor-General's Report 2014 Series 3 revealed.
It said this is despite the states, such as Kelantan and Terengganu, are among those with the largest flood area and the highest average losses caused by flood.
The audit carried out from Dec 2014 to April 2015 also found that all audited projects were not completed on time, where one to six Extension of Time (EOT) were approved.
It said this was due to delays in land acquisition, obstacles and problems on site, weather conditions, changes in design to adapt to current site condition and delays in connection of electricity.
There were also projects' components and works that did not comply with specification or were of low quality.
There were components of FMP that were not optimal as well as some that were not well maintained.
The report, however, pointed out the audit revealed that generally FMP has reduced the risk due to flood such as loss of human lives and property damages.
The government has allocated a total of RM3.35 billion under the Tenth Malaysia Plan for the project, with the implementation consisting of river improvement works, construction of pump house and other related facilities, upgrading of pond detention, raising the river bund as well as land acquisition.