Efforts to solve the problem of flash floods in Malacca will cost the state government RM245 million to implement various short and long-term projects, the state legislative assembly sitting was told today.

Malacca Works and Public Utilities Committee chairperson Abd Ghaffar Atan said among the long-term projects involved were RM5 million for flood mitigation in Sungai Merlimau, Jasin and RM232,300 for maintenance of drains at several areas as a short-term project.

He said the failure of the water drainage system at present to accommodate the water flow was one of the main factors for flash floods to occur, especially in Merlimau, Jasin last August.

“The state government has requested the federal government to have the sum (RM245 million) as part of the RM9 billion project to overcome flash flood woes nationwide,” he said when replying to a question from Roslan Ahmad (Merlimau-BN).

Abd Ghaffar said efforts to solve the problem should not be left entirely to the state government as the public cooperation in the maintenance of drains such as those near their houses were also vital.

Meanwhile, Malacca Company Affairs, Human Resources and Non-governmental Organisations Committee chairperson MS Mahadevan said the current unemployment rate in the state was at 0.8 percent, which was one of the lowest in the country.

“Employment in Malacca is constantly at the highest level at which the state government strives to ensure the people have jobs,” he said when replying to Sazali Muhd Din (BN-Paya Rumput).

- Bernama