KOTA KINABALU: The federal government has approved a total of RM800mil in allocations to resolve flood issues faced by Sabah.

Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the allocations included four flood mitigation projects in the Papar and Beaufort districts.

He disclosed this during his working visit to the state to inspect several flood-prone areas in Papar and Beaufort on Saturday (Aug 20).

He said he was given a briefing on the flooding experienced in coastal Beaufort and Papar districts and also plans for the flood mitigation projects in these areas.

"We have allocated RM30mil for the sub-district of Membakut under Beaufort, for the construction of a floodway for Sungai Membakut to Sungai Binsuluk,” said Tuan Ibrahim.

He added that another project is the conservation of Sungai Padas in Beaufort, where the ministry had allocated RM12mil.

He said an allocation of RM32mil for flood mitigation projects was also set aside for Kg Kuala Dalam Village and Kg Pengalat.

"Another involves channelling and stabilizing the river bank in Hulu Sulim in Kampung Labak, Kinarut (Papar) with an allocation of almost RM150,000 involving channelling the river for a distance of 300m and stabilising the river bank for a distance of 45m," he said told reporters at Kampung Pengalat in Papar.

He said that all projects are expected to be implemented from the beginning of next year with a project schedule for completion.

"We hope that the approval of RM800mil will be good news, especially for this area which is flood prone," he said during the visit accompanied by Kawang assemblyman Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar.