Its minister, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, said the projects were based on the assessments made by ministry secretary-general Zaini Ujang and department of irrigation and drainage (DID) director-general Nasir Noh, who visited the location yesterday to assess the impact of the disaster and to draw up mitigation plans.

He said the four projects were the Baling Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) Phase 1 and Phase 2 involving a cost of RM15 million and RM160 million respectively; the construction of a sabo dam to reduce the risk of debris flow (RM22 million); and several small projects that needed to be expedited, such as deepening of rivers, building river embankments, and repairing bridges and river trails (RM6 million).

The flash floods and water surge phenomenon that occurred on Monday in Baling claimed three lives while hundreds of victims were evacuated to temporary relief centres.

Tuan Ibrahim said continuous rain for three hours caused the flash floods, adding that the DID station at Felda Teloi Kanan recorded a rainfall of 64mm, while more than 40mm of rainfall each was logged at the Kampung Sedim and Kampung Iboi stations.

He said satellite data from the meteorological department showed that the rainfall was more than double in Gunung Inas, which is upstream of Sungai Tiak and Sungai Kupang, adding that the heavy rain exceeded capacity, causing the flash floods.

He said the depth of the floodwaters that was recorded at 6pm was between 0.2m and 3m in Kampung Iboi, Kampung Padang Lengkuas, Kampung Bukit Hangus, Kampung Pisang and Pekan Kupang.

Tuan Ibrahim said in the upstream area of the disaster area, there were land-use activities that had caused debris flow or water surges during heavy rain.