Citing Climate Change Ex Minister Calls For Overhaul Of Did

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Former environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that with climate change, DID’s role will no longer be limited to minor duties like monitoring agricultural irrigation systems.
PETALING JAYA: A former minister has urged the government to overhaul the department of irrigation and drainage (DID) to prepare it for the bigger responsibility of facing climate change.
Former environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the risk of natural disasters brought about by climate change meant that DID’s role was no longer limited to minor duties such as monitoring agricultural irrigation systems.
Tuan Ibrahim, who was minister from 2020 to 2022, suggested that the agency be given a greater number of staff as well as a larger allocation to carry out projects to mitigate climate change.
“It’s time for the job functions and role of DID to be reevaluated and overhauled. First, it needs to be allocated more funds because of its wide job scope, which includes protecting our sources of water.
“It also needs more staff and more centres for monitoring (possible floods),” the PAS deputy president said in an interview with FMT.
Tuan Ibrahim suggested that Putrajaya tap groundwater sources and build more water catchment areas at riverbanks to prepare for hot spells.
He said the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia had forecast severe prolonged droughts in Peninsular Malaysia from 2025 to 2035.
He also said Malaysia was currently utilising only about 3% of its groundwater, while other nations were tapping between 40% and 45% of their underground water sources.
“If a drought hits, dries up our rivers and puts our dams at risk, we have an alternative in groundwater,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim, the Kubang Kerian MP, also urged the government to expedite flood mitigation projects in Kelantan, whose residents are affected by floods almost annually during the year-end monsoon season.
Several flood mitigation projects costing RM15 billion were retendered by Putrajaya in 2023 to save “significant funds”. Last December, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said these projects were proceeding as planned.
Tuan Ibrahim disputed this, saying the rise in cost of building materials as well as the targeted diesel subsidies may have contributed to a spike in the overall cost of the projects.
Kelantan and Terengganu were battered by several rounds of floods at the end of last year, with more than 150,000 people forced to flee their homes and various infrastructure damaged as a result. - FMT

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