By: Zaki Salleh
PANTAI REMIS: Complaints from residents regarding the increasing shallowness of the Beruas River estuary due to siltation have received attention with the approval of a RM1 million allocation for river maintenance works.
Special Officer to the Deputy Prime Minister II, Neow Choo Seong, stated that the approval has been channeled to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to carry out the relevant works in the near future.
According to him, the siltation problem at the river estuary not only hampers the movement of boats entering and exiting but also increases the risk of flooding for local residents, particularly the fishing community.
“Following the complaints received, I visited Pantai Remis today to conduct an engagement session with residents, fishermen, and relevant parties to obtain a clearer picture of the actual situation,” he said in a statement.
He also expressed appreciation to DPM II, Dato’ Seri Fadillah Yusof, for his concern and support in approving the allocation.
He added that feedback from residents is vital to ensure that every remedial step taken truly benefits the local community, especially small-scale fishermen who rely on the estuary as a source of livelihood.
In the meantime, he informed that a proposal has also been submitted to the DID to conduct further studies regarding the construction of a protective breakwater as a long-term solution.
“A comprehensive approach must be taken so that this issue is not only addressed in the short term, but also to ensure the sustainability of the Beruas River estuary area for the future,” he said.
