Johor Bersatu Youth accuses state govt of neglecting flood mitigation works in Mahkota

KLUANG: Johor Bersatu’s youth wing has claimed that flood mitigation works have not been conducted in the Mahkota constituency here despite the state government already allocating the required funds.

State Bersatu Armada chief Mohamad Syafiq Mohd Khairul Sam said RM800,000 had been allocated for river deepening works and RM5mil for flood mitigation works at Sungai Melantai here.

“We understand that the allocations have been disbursed but we have not seen any works being conducted.

“Until today, the Mahkota people are affected by flood issues. This raises the questions whether the funds have really been channeled or not?” he told a press conference in Kampung Bentong Luar here on Monday (Sept 23).

He added that the state government must explain and give updates about the projects, as Mahkota has been experiencing floods for years.

“Even when the late Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain was the Mahkota assemblyman, the issue could not be resolved,” he added.

Meanwhile, at a separate event, Johor works, transportation, infrastructure, and communication committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh denied the Bersatu leader’s allegations, saying that three projects had been carried out in 2024 to address flooding issues in the area.

The state executive councillor said one of the projects to improve water flow in Kampung Palembang Baru, worth RM175,000, was completed on Aug 21.

He added that a RM409,180 river bank repairs project at Sungai Melantai was completed on Sept 9, while a RM326,660 river bank reinforcement project was completed on August 19.

“The Johor government has funded close to RM3mil worth of flood mitigation works over the years. This year alone, about RM1mil was spent on upgrading works at both rivers.

“How can they (opposition) say that nothing has been done? They can call me personally if they want to see what was done,” he said in response to the allegations.

Earlier, Mohammad Fazli had launched a new Johor Muafakat Bus route that runs between Paloh and Kluang at the bus terminal here.