KUALA LUMPUR: There must be no direct negotiations in the implementation of flood mitigation plans that will curb natural disasters that are happening in the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the implementation of the plan, which is until year 2100 with a projected expenditure of almost RM297 billion, must be given to qualified companies that are capable of executing the plans.
"This is a huge amount, there must be no direct negotiations, it must be given to capable companies and not to individuals or politicians who put personal gain as the priority," he said in RTM's Naratif Khas programme tonight.
Taking a jab at the RM15 billion flood mitigation plan that was signed under the previous administration which he said failed to solve natural disaster problems, he said a total solution needs to be implemented.
"Problems faced by the rakyat need to be solved, floods issues need to be solved as well as the issue of landslides and coastal, hillside and mountain erosions.
"There is also the problem of clearings in rain catchment areas and areas that should not be targeted for development, all of these should be resolved."
Meanwhile, he said immediate actions such as building smart tunnels in other cities similar to the one in Kuala Lumpur would help with the flash floods issue.
"For example in Shah Alam, floods happening there due poor irrigation, we cannot only be looking at digging existing rivers but there must be a long-term plan to channel the excessive waters to the smart tunnel and release it during a drought."
He also said he had spoken to the new Education Minister (Fadhlina Sidek) on upgrading the infrastructure at schools which would be used as temporary evacuation centres.
"Some of the schools are not equipped with proper facilities to be used as temporary evacuation centres.
"So what we do is build a multi-purpose hall in these schools. When there is a flood it can be turn into evacuation centres, and when there is no flood, the schools can still use it as a hall, this can save money," he said.
He added that there's a need for a "smart move" between the National Disaster Management Agency and Education Ministry as well as other agencies in this matter.
