KOTA BARU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited the construction site of Phase 1 of the Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB) in Tunjong here today.
The project costing RM699 million is expected to benefit some 95,000 residents once it is completed.
Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, was received by Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud upon his arrival at the construction site of the project at 3.50pm.
Present was Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
During the visit, Anwar was briefed on the progress and how the project would help to reduce flooding issues by the department director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Anuar Othman.
"There has been some delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic and land acquisition issues, but so far the progress of the project has reached 94 percent.
"Phase 1 of the PLSB in Sungai Kelantan will benefit some 95,000 residents and is expected to reduce issues faced by the people each year," Anuar told reporters.
He added that the construction of Phase 1 of the PLSB in Sungai Kelantan, which covers an area of 81ha, is expected to be fully completed by July next year.
Anuar, however, said that even though the project will be completed, it does not mean there will be no flooding in the affected areas.
"However, the project will at least reduce other issues such as overflowing of water (from Sungai Kelantan)," he said.
As for the construction of Phase 2 of PLSB, which has started and costs RM1.064 million, Anuar said the department has already received the acceptance letter.
"The visit by the Prime Minister today is to assess the progress of the project, as he had already visited in December," he said.
Earlier today, Anwar and his Thai counterpart, Srettha Thavis visited Rantau Panjang, Kelantan and Sungai Golok, Narathiwat, Thailand to check the progress of the bridge upgrade project connecting Rantau Panjang and Sungai Golok.