KUALA LUMPUR: The government will continue the River of Live (RoL) project despite revelations by the Auditor General's (AG) Report that none of the project's objectives has been achieved.
Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said this was as the project has reached 81 per cent completion.
"The Federal Territories Department is reviewing and improving the existing business model (of RoL) with the involvement of various parties.
"However, the department's current priority is to ensure that the remaining 19 per cent of the project is completed first as the impact of the business model can only be known after the project is fully completed.
"The department will also reevaluate all projects in the pre-implementation stage to determine whether the projects should continue or otherwise as recommended by the AG's Report," she said in her winding-up speech for the Federal Territories Department on the AG's report in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Zaliha said a "whole nation approach" commitment was also needed to ensure the project's success.
"Commitment is required not only from the government but also from residents, contractors, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and the public to realise the goal of improving the quality of river water around Kuala Lumpur.
"Cooperation and proactive actions by the public in maintaining river cleanliness must be emphasised for the sustainability of the rivers," she said.
Last week, the AG's Report disclosed that the RoL project, which aims to revitalise areas near Sungai Gombak and Sungai Klang in the city centre, will not be completed this year. (reference: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/1072061/river-life-project-wi...)
The report also said that 12 projects were in the pre-implementation stage and eight projects were in the implementation stage as of July last year.
Additionally, contractors have yet to be appointed for two projects following the termination of previous contracts.
It was also revealed that only 50 out of 296 sewage treatment plants have been rationalised or upgraded.
As of December 2023, RM3.915 billion had been spent out of the allocated RM4.363 billion (89.7 per cent).
The delays in the readiness of three projects and the termination of one sewage project had also resulted in estimated cost increases of up to RM234.72 million.
The report added that river relocation works were not implemented along a 2.2-kilometre stretch of Sungai Gombak.