KELANTAN state government will hold further discussions with the federal government to overcome flood issues, especially stagnant waters faced by residents in several villages around Rantau Panjang in Pasir Mas, said Menteri Besar Mohd Nassuruddin Daud.

He said there were many complaints from villagers regarding the construction of the Sungai Golok integrated river basin development project that caused the level of floodwaters to rise and the occurrence of stagnant waters.

“They hope that the federal government will study the wall’s construction. The state government understands it has yet to be completed.

“Maybe the federal government needs to think of something before the project is completed so that water can flow smoothly,” he told reporters after visiting evacuees at the relief centre at SK Kiambang.

On suggestions by villagers that a tunnel or a canal be built to channel flood waters away, he said a thorough study should back it before implementation.

“There are claims that floods here (Pasir Mas and Rantau Panjang) are worse than 2014 and that the water level is higher because of the wall.

“We can’t avoid floods as it does happen frequently, but something needs to be done to ensure that the water level isn’t high and stagnant waters don’t occur,” he said.

The Natural Resource and Environmental Sustainability Ministry previously stated that there would be some modifications to the Sungai Golok river basin project due to the occurrence of stagnant water in the area. – Bernama, December 26, 2023