Kelantan Says Lebir Dam Project To Address Flood Problem, Improve Water Supply
KOTA BHARU, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan government views the Lebir Dam project, announced in Budget 2027 yesterday, as part of long-term efforts to address flooding and improve clean water supply in the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said the effort was also supported by several other water infrastructure projects, including the provision of Phase Two of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB).
He said the construction of the Riverbank Water Reservoir and Water Treatment Plant in Machang, which is currently at the design stage, as well as the replacement of ageing water pipes, would also strengthen the state’s water supply infrastructure.
In a statement today, he also said the operation of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) from Gombak to Kota Bharu in December, as well as the construction of an integrated bus terminal with the Kota Bharu ECRL Station, was expected to complete the transportation terminal network in Kelantan.
However, the state government hopes the proposal to extend the East Coast Highway (LPT) from Terengganu to Kelantan will also be given attention to ensure more balanced infrastructure development between regions.
The state government also welcomed the federal government’s intention to equip the Universiti Sains Malaysia Specialist Hospital in Kubang Kerian with robotic surgery technology and to build kindergartens for the Orang Asli community in Kampung Angkek and Pos Belatim.
Mohd Nassuruddin said the state government was confident that the federal Budget 2027, particularly allocations related to Kelantan, as well as the Kelantan State Budget 2027 to be tabled on Oct 29, would benefit the people.
He said this confidence was also supported by the good relationship between the Kelantan state government and the federal government.
Meanwhile, Kelantan State Secretary Datuk Dr Tengku Mohamed Faziharudean Tengku Feissal said the Lebir Dam was among the projects eagerly anticipated by the state government as it was expected to resolve about 80 per cent of the flooding problem in Kelantan upon completion.
Regarding the construction of the integrated bus terminal at the Kota Bharu ECRL Station, Tengku Mohamed Faziharudean said the state government had provided five acres of land in Tunjong for the proposed terminal to be located next to the station.
“The land is currently undergoing soil treatment, while implementation of the project is expected to be initiated by the federal government by the end of this year, as announced in Budget 2027.
“The terminal will connect ECRL with other public transport services, including express buses, stage buses, taxis and e-hailing services, thereby facilitating passenger movement,” he told reporters after officiating the 2026 Kelantan-level National Sports Day here today.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling Budget 2027, announced the Lebir Dam project as a long-term solution to the flooding problem in the state.
Efforts to improve clean water supply have also been given attention through the construction of the Machang Water Treatment Plant and the replacement of ageing pipes, which are currently being carried out.
In the transport sector, Phase One of the ECRL from Kota Bharu to the Gombak Integrated Terminal is expected to begin operations in December.
Malaysia and China have also agreed to extend the ECRL route to Rantau Panjang, while the government has allocated RM270 million to improve stage bus services in major cities, including connecting 15 stations on the East Coast ahead of the ECRL's operation.
-- BERNAMA