Govt to carry on with controversial River of Life project

PARLIAMENT | Despite spending nearly RM4 billion and yet to meet its objectives, the government has decided to continue the River of Life (ROL) project.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, in her winding-up speech today, said she would ensure the Federal Territories Department (FTD) and the implementing agencies carry on with the project, which is 81 percent complete.

“Among the planned actions are reappointing contractors to complete the terminated project, conducting a more detailed assessment to restart the previously cancelled beautification project, and reassessing the pre-implementation project,” she said.

According to the Auditor-General’s Department report, no ROL objectives have been achieved, especially in improving the river’s quality for recreational purposes (Class IIB).

Launched in July 2011 under then-premier Najib Abdul Razak, RM4.4 billion was allocated to redevelop 10.7km of the Klang River in central Kuala Lumpur and clean up 110km of its upriver shoreline.

The report also mentioned that several projects had been delayed for over eight years, resulting in poor maintenance of project assets, leaving them neglected, damaged, and underutilised.

Successful transformation

Elaborating, Zaliha said of the 160 projects, 130 have been completed, six are in progress, and three have terminated their contracts and will be retendered.

She added that seven projects are in the pre-implementation phase, six projects have been cancelled, and eight projects are under management contracts (not physical).

She pointed out that despite not achieving 100 percent completion, two rivers - Klang and Gombak - have achieved their waterfront icon status, which comes with high economic value.

“The ROL project can be described as having transformed Kuala Lumpur city due to its success in receiving various local and international recognitions.

“It was listed in the World’s 10 Best Waterfront Districts by Independent, a UK-based online news portal,” she said.

She added that both FTD and Kuala Lumpur City Hall have taken proactive action to ensure the completed facilities are being used.

As of July, 22 units of the project’s guiding gallery and kiosks had been rented, while the remaining 32 are being offered and advertised for rental.

Earlier, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan suggested the government use the completed facilities instead of turning them into monuments to such a failed project.

While calling for the project to be investigated, Syahredzan also said it needs to continue after the government addresses the existing weaknesses.

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