Chow Kon Yeow says out the of RM22.661 million, RM5.43 million will go to overall emergency works on bridges, drainage systems and river banks to be undertaken by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID). — Picture by K.E.Ooi

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 29 ― The Penang state government will allocate a total of RM22.661 million to repair infrastructure damaged by the November 4 and 5 floods.

Of the amount, RM5.43 million will go to overall emergency works on bridges, drainage systems and river banks to be undertaken by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).

Local government, traffic management and flood mitigation committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said of the total sum approved for the DID, RM1.32 million is for the northeast district on the island, RM120,000 for the southwest district on the island, RM500,000 for North Seberang Perai, RM2.2 million for Central Seberang Perai and RM1.291 for South Seberang Perai.

“Some of the works have started due to the urgency of the repair works and some will start soon as tenders will be called very soon,” he said in a press conference at Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's office today.

On top of these emergency repair works, Chow said the DID will also implement the RM350 million flood mitigation projects allocated by the state government in the next two to three years.

For the federally-funded RM150 million Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project, it is in the process of appointing a contractor for the design-and-build undertaking, which will take another six months.

Other than drainage and irrigation projects, the state government will also clear debris from landslides and repair damaged hill slopes.

Public works and utilities committee chairman Lim Hock Seng said there are 71 locations identified on state roads such as 45 locations along Jalan Tun Sardon, 25 locations along the Jeep Road in Penang Hill and one along Jalan Pondok Upeh.

“It will cost RM17,230,000 to clear and repair these sites and this will be funded by our existing fund for such repair works,” he said.

There are also two major federal roads that were affected by landslides: the Coastal Road linking Teluk Kumbar to Tanjung Tokong with 50 locations and Jalan Paya Terubong with four locations.

“The cost to clear and repair the federal roads are RM8.49 million and we will have to apply to the federal government for allocation since these are federal roads,” he said.

The November 4 and 5 floods were possibly the worst to have ever hit Penang, and displaced more than 12,000 people over the weekend and affected almost 100,000 people.

All five districts in the state were flooded, with evacuations needed in all.