Federal aid to prepare for monsoon season

A TOTAL of 24 mobile pumps, worth RM10.4mil, have been allocated by the Federal Government to help Johor prepare early for the monsoon season this year.

Johor works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said this was a short-term solution to the frequent floods in low-lying Batu Pahat.

“This allocation was approved by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad during a meeting with Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi in Putrajaya on July 12.”

Mohamad Fazli was speaking after the “Mega Gerak Kerjaya MyFuture Jobs Johor” programme at Arena Larkin Stadium, Johor Baru.

The Federal Government also approved RM6.88mil for drainage infrastructure maintenance like repairing river banks and deepening rivers, he said.

Besides these, he said more than RM100mil had been allocated to upgrade three routes in Johor.

They are FT1 Jalan Johor Baru, FT3 (Mersing-Kota Tinggi) and FT5 Jalan Pontian.

Mohamad Fazli (right) talking to Izhar at the JPDC booth at Mega Gerak Kerjaya MyFuture Jobs Johor programme.

“The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

“Another project, costing RM80mil, will involve four phases of work upgrading more federal routes in the area.”

Mohamad Fazli also announced that the Federal Government had agreed to speed up the physical development of two major road projects in Johor, namely the North-South Highway (PLUS) expansion and the overtaking lanes on the Senai Desaru Expressway (SDE).

“Based on the previous schedule, the PLUS project was slated to start in November next year but this was brought forward to February next year.

“The SDE work was supposed to start in October next year but was brought forward to October this year,” he said, highlighting that these were considered high- impact projects.

The PLUS expansion project is expected to cost RM550mil while the SDE overtaking lane project is RM160mil, he added.

Also present at the “Mega Gerak Kerjaya MyFuture Jobs Johor” programme was Johor Petroleum Development Corporation Bhd (JPDC) acting chief executive Izhar Hifnei Ismail.

“At least 20,000 skilled workers are needed in the downstream oil and gas industry in the country. To address this gap, JPDC has programmes to upskill and reskill more locals,” said Izhar.

“Since 2013, JPDC has produced close to 6,500 skilled workers for the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC).

“These Skills in Oil and Gas (Soga) and Bridging Gaps programmes are fully funded by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department,” he added.

Meanwhile, Johor Strategic Human Capital Unit general manager Tazrina Ahmad said the MyFuture Jobs Johor programme offered 2,000 vacancies in sectors such as oil and gas, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism.

“This is the third job fair that we have organised this year and we hope it will help those who are currently looking for a job,” she said.