KUALA LUMPUR (May 23): The government estimates that its flood mitigation projects would cost a total of RM10.9 billion under an accelerated pre-qualified tender process, said Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Fielding questions from reporters at a press conference here, the minister said the government has allowed more companies to bid for projects under the new process, as opposed to direct negotiations previously.

“The difference is that we have opened [up applications] to more companies to participate [in the tender process], and the outcome is about RM10.9 billion [in contract value] from RM15 billion previously. These are preliminary estimates that we have.

“The government’s intention is to no longer opt for direct negotiations, (but to) control the costs, and make sure that the projects can be delivered,” Nik Nazmi said.

It is unclear if the projects to be awarded in this round includes all projects underlined in the previous government’s proposal.

In March last year, the previous government announced an additional RM15 billion for flood mitigation projects over the period 2023 to 2030.

Last December, the new government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim initiated a review involving RM7 billion worth of the projects and in February, he informed the Dewan Rakyat that six projects would be re-tendered by June.

They include flood mitigation works in Sungai Johor, Kota Tinggi, Johor; the construction of the Sungai Klang-Sungai Rasau dual-function reservoir in Selangor; and Phase 3 of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development in Kelantan.

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