JOHOR BARU: Contractors will have to answer to the Johor government if their high-impact projects, including flood mitigation works, face issues or delays in completion.

Housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said this was to ensure that any issues arising are tackled early on to avoid delays.

“These include flood mitigation projects at hotspots such as Kampung Mohd Amin with an allocation of RM9.8mil and the construction of an on-site detention pond in the low-lying Jalan Dato Sulaiman worth RM7.7mil,” he said after visiting the project sites on Thursday (May 15).

He said RM10.3mil was also allocated to upgrade Johor Baru Hutan Bandar in three phases to improve its children’s pool, campsite and jogging tracks; RM2.7mil to upgrade the Taman Merdeka park; RM7.3mil for phase two upgrades of the Johor Zoo; and RM9.3mil to widen Persiaran Abu Bakar Sultan from the existing four lanes to six.

The other projects include the RM18.7mil Sungai Lebam upgrading works in Pengerang to turn the area into a tourism attraction with a children’s water park and recreational facilities.

He said most of the projects were scheduled for completion by the end of this year, also in time for Visit Johor 2026, which is set to kick off on Jan 1.

“We are monitoring the progress of the projects regularly to give monthly updates to Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s office, as he is particular about meeting deadlines.

“If there are... delays, the contractor will be called in for questioning as the state government wants to ensure the projects' completion."

Jafni, accompanied by Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad and government agency representatives, also visited several project sites such as the roadworks near the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar customs, immigration and quarantine complex, and repainting of the overhead pedestrian crossings in Skudai Kiri.

PUTRAJAYA, May 15 — The Department of Environment (DOE), in collaboration with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), will provide the Air Pollutant Index (API) updates twice a day on RTM, in the morning and evening, starting tomorrow.

DOE director-general Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar said the close collaboration with MetMalaysia was expected to not only strengthen ties between the agencies but also help the public make wiser decisions, especially concerning health and outdoor activities.

“The collaboration with MetMalaysia enables weather data and air quality information to be integrated more effectively, thereby improving our ability to make assessments and to take appropriate action,” he said in a statement here today.

Wan Abdul Latiff said the DOE and MetMalaysia believed the effort would not only strengthen the roles of both agencies in environmental management but also contribute to the development of a more sustainable and resilient nation centred on the well-being of the people.

He said API monitoring was carried out 24 hours a day by DOE officers through the National Environmental Command Centre, which served as the main facility for real-time monitoring of API readings nationwide, aimed at ensuring that air quality remained under control and complied with the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standards.

“This measure is part of the DOE’s continuous efforts to reduce the impact of pollution on public health and to increase the country’s level of preparedness in facing any air pollution incidents, including haze,” he said.

The public is encouraged to refer to the official website, www.eqms.doe.gov.my, and the MyJAS EQMS application for direct and detailed information on the API. — Bernama

KOTA BHARU: Kementerian Peralihan Tenaga dan Transformasi Air (Petra) telah memberi pilihan kepada syarikat Air Kelantan Sdn. Bhd. (AKSB) atau Kerajaan Kelantan dalam melaksanakan usaha baik pulih cerun runtuh berhampiran Loji Rawatan Air (LRA) Bukit Remah di Tanah Merah dekat sini.

Timbalan Menterinya, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd. Nasir berkata, kedua-dua pihak boleh memilih untuk melaksanakan usaha tersebut melalui pakej-pakej di bawah Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) berikutan ia turut melibatkan aset air dan sebagainya.

Menurutnya, selain itu, pihak AKSB merasakan masih ada ruang untuk memohon peruntukan dalam bentuk geran daripada Kerajaan Persekutuan, namun akan berlaku kesulitan berikutan tiada butiran diperlukan.

“Ini berlaku kerana di peringkat Petra, jarang sekali kejadian bencana melibatkan aset air. Pihak AKSB dan kerajaan negeri boleh memilih kaedah yang mahu digunakan tetapi perlu buat keputusan cepat.

“Kebimbangan kami (Petra) adalah sekiranya baik pulih cerun tidak disegerakan. Apabila tiba musim tengkujuh, cerun tersebut bukan sahaja semakin terancam, tetapi mungkin akan turut menjejaskan LRA Bukit Remah sendiri.

“Cabaran kita adalah untuk melihat keperluan membaik pulih cerun berhampiran LRA Bukit Remah. Diharap AKSB dan kerajaan negeri dapat buat keputusan sebaik mungkin,” katanya ketika ditemui pemberita semasa melawat perkembangan projek pembinaan LRA Tanjung Mas, di sini hari ini.

Mengulas lanjut, Akmal Nasrullah memberitahu, kejadian cerun runtuh di dalam kawasan aset air merupakan perkara yang sangat jarang berlaku dan sudah pasti ada beberapa ruang untuk kerajaan negeri meminta bantuan daripada Kerajaan Persekutuan bagi mendapatkan dana untuk baik pulih.

Katanya, terdapat permohonan daripada AKSB bagi mendapatkan dana bagi tujuan tersebut dan Petra mengemukakan pilihan sama ada usaha baik pulih cerun dilaksanakan melalui pakej PAAB atau permohonan lain.

“Setakat ini, AKSB hanya memaklumkan jangkaan kos untuk baik pulih cerun yang dianggarkan bernilai RM6.05 juta. Bagi penyelesaian jangka sederhana dan panjang, masih ada beberapa perancangan lain.

“Cuma ia adalah langkah mitigasi segera yang perlu diperhalusi. Kita harap perkara itu akan dapat diputuskan segera supaya masalah berkenaan dapat diselesaikan dengan secepat mungkin,” katanya-UTUSAN

KOTA BARU: The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry has urged Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB) to promptly decide on repairs for the collapsed slope near the Bukit Remah Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Tanah Merah, following a landslide in November last year.

Deputy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said the incident damaged the plant's inlet and outlet pipelines, but the pipe repairs had already been done.

He said it was crucial to restore the slope before the upcoming monsoon season, which could potentially compromise the entire structure of the water treatment plant.

"We have given AKSB the option of whether to carry out repair works through Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad or apply for a special grant from the Federal Government. However, a decision must be made soon as the risk of further landslides is high," he told reporters after a working visit to the Tanjung Mas WTP construction site here today.

On Nov 28 last year, the slope at Bukit Remah collapsed during the Northeast Monsoon season, damaging both raw and treated water pipelines.

Akmal Nasrullah said that although disasters such as floods rarely had a direct impact on the water infrastructure, the government was ready to help in recovery efforts.

He also visited the proposed site for the construction of a riverbank water reservoir in Machang, which will be the first of its kind in Kelantan.

He added that a consultant had been appointed for the project and the ministry is awaiting official site confirmation from the state government before commencing detailed planning work.

Meanwhile, Akmal Nasrullah said that the upgrading works for the Tanjung Mas WTP were progressing well.

"Construction of the tube wells is expected to be completed by the end of this year before the plant's pre-implementation phase commences," he said. – BERNAMA