Saturday March 2, 2013

River of mud flows in Ipoh

By EDMUND NGO
edmundngo@thestar.com.my

Overflowing: The mudslide flowing from the uphill development (in the background) and into the monsoon drain in Taman Kledang Permai, Ipoh.

IPOH: Residents in Taman Kledang Permai and Taman Arkid were shocked to wake up to find a river of mud gushing into their homes following an overnight downpour, which also swept away three cars.

Khairul Zainon, 37, who lives above his workshop along Persiaran Kledang Permai 7, said he woke up at about 2.30am yesterday when he heard rumbling noises from the site of an uphill development nearby.

“I was shocked to see the road in front of my shop turning into a swift river. Three vehicles parked nearby were swept away,” he said.

Besides damaging the cars, the river of mud that rushed into some 300 shoplots and residences at these two areas in the wee hours of the morning cut off access into the Ipoh-Lumut Expressway via Persiaran Kledang Permai, forcing many to use alternative routes.

Residents claimed that this was the second time such a mudslide occurred.

Taman Arkid resident Wong Wai Meng, 41, said he was still awake at about 2.30am when muddy floodwaters flowed into his double-storey home.

“It was a frightening sight when I saw the 0.6m-high muddy water flowing swiftly into my house, damaging all my electrical appliances.

Damaged: One of the cars that was swept away by the early morning mudslide at Taman Kledang Permai.

“When the rain stopped about half an hour later, I went out to the nearby shoplots and was shocked to find the two large monsoon drains overflowing with muddy water,” he said.

Ipoh mayor Datuk Roshidi Hashim said the downpour had caused two natural ponds in the nearby hill development to overflow into the shops and homes.

“I have already instructed the developer and the council's technical officers to resolve the problem immediately to prevent this from recurring,” he said.

Later, after a meeting with the developers, Roshidi said a stop-work order was issued.

“The building plan has not actually been approved. It was just ground work,” he said, adding that the developers had not properly maintained the retention ponds.

Energiser Property Sdn Bhd marketing and sales manager Rangit Singh said it was clearing the debris, adding that Persiaran Kledang Permai should be accessible within a day or two.

Meanwhile, M. Thangavelu, 42, from Taman Arkid, said there was a similar mudslide eight years ago in the area.

“It was a smaller mudslide when the Taman Kledang Permai residential area was being constructed but this is worse.

“I hope the local authorities can solve this problem once and for all,” he said.

News

Saturday March 2, 2013

River of mud flows in Ipoh

By EDMUND NGO edmundngo@thestar.com.my

By EDMUND NGO
edmundngo@thestar.com.my