Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the three-phase project, which began in 2015, and is expected to be completed by 2022, would also be able to forecast heavy rain seven days earlier and floods two days before they occur.

“Therefore, the National Disaster Management Agency can provide early warning to the authorities and flood preparedness can also be improved.

“Following this, the public can also be informed on the flood warning two days earlier, so that they can evacuate early,” he said in reply to a supplementary question from Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor) on the system during the question-and-answer session here today.

He said the project, costing about RM550 million, involved 40 river basins throughout the country.

Replying to a supplementary question from Dr Tan Seng Giaw (DAP-Kepong), who wanted to know how the ministry would help enhance cooperation in flood management between states, Wan Junaidi said a national-level committee would be formed to coordinate the matter.

“Actually, authorities in each state already have their own standard operating procedures. Thus, the committee will look at the SOPs so that any work on flood disaster management can be coordinated,” he said.