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.