KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should explain how he obtained the RM2bil figure he said was saved from retendering six flood mitigation projects, says Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian).
The PAS deputy president pointed out that the flood mitigation projects had yet to be built.
"These projects have yet to commence. There aren’t any letters of acceptance and contractors haven't been appointed yet 'savings' were announced," said Tuan Ibrahim during his speech on Budget 2023 on Wednesday (March 1).
Tuan Ibrahim said if projects were indeed delayed, the government would be facing losses instead of savings.
"Each time a project is delayed, costs will increase... the country loses RM6bil to RM7bil each time floods happen," he said.
The six flood mitigation projects involved are located at Sungai Johor and Kota Tinggi in Johor, the Sungai Golok integrated river basin development phase 3 in Kelantan and the Sungai Klang-Sungai Rasau dual function reservoir in Selangor.
When tabling Budget 2023 on Feb 24, Anwar had said RM2bil could be saved from the RM15bil allocated for the six flood mitigation projects by ensuring a proper tender process is carried out.
Anwar also said the projects were approved under Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's administration and were being probed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Attorney General's Chambers.
Tuan Ibrahim was the environment and water minister then and the flood mitigation projects were under his purview.
Anwar said the six flood mitigation projects will be retendered by June this year.
