DPM Fadillah acknowleges remedial works need to be done to address Sarawak River Barrage's deteriorating structural conditions, says Kim Shin

PUTRAJAYA, March 10 2026: Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof has acknowledged the urgent need to undertake remedial works to address the deteriorating structural conditions of the Sarawak River Barrage, according to Sarawak Minister of Transport (MoT) Lee Kim Shin.

Caption: Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof (seated, far left) with state MoT Lee Kim Shin (on Fadillah's left) at meeting in Putrajaya 

He said Fadillah, in a meeting with a delegation of the state MoT yesterday, also wants the expansion of riverbed scouring both upstream and downstream of the barrage to be continued.

“These works are essential to ensure the continued effectiveness of the barrage in supporting flood mitigation efforts in Kuching and its surrounding areas,” Lee said in a statement.

Lee said the deputy prime minister stressed the importance of enhancing the river monitoring system and encouraged closer collaboration between the federal Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and its state counterpart on the proposed upgrading of telemetry stations at barrage.

“The upgrading initiative is expected to improve real-time monitoring capabilities and strengthen flood management operations along the Sungai Sarawak Basin,” he said.

He said Fadillah also agreed in principle that the proposed procurement of trash skimmers and a trash collection boats for Sungai Sarawak and Sungai Miri will be funded through the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra).

Lee said the equipment will support ongoing river cleaning operations, particularly in removing water hyacinth and floating domestic waste, thereby contributing to cleaner and more sustainable river management.

Apart from Lee, the other members of the Sarawak delegation Henry Harry Jinep, Deputy Minister for Transport Sarawak (Riverine and Marine); Safiee Ahmad, Chairman of the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB);  Wong Hee Sieng, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport Sarawak; Ahmad Denney  Ahmad Fauzi, Director of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Sarawak; Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, Board Member of the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) and State Legislative Member for Bukit Assek; Ding Tiew Wong, Controller of the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB); and Constantine Gerald David Anak Jonas, Head of the Riverine and Maritime Transport Division, Ministry of Transport Sarawak.