Mohd Fareez (second from left) looking at the inventory of assets which includes high-pressure water jet cleaners at MPKj headquarters. — GRACE CHEN/The Star
Impending storms expected during the northeast monsoon is causing much anxiety to Selangor folk who suffered in the December 2021 floods.
For residents of Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam where 14,000 people were displaced, the ordeal remains fresh in their minds.
To this day, flash floods occur, in the area, every time there is a downpour.
Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Engineering Department acting director Hanif Basree Abdul Rahman said upgrading projects involving constructing additional scupper drains to help with floodwater dispersal in Sections 9, 15, 23, 25 and 27 as well as U9, U16 and U20 were still ongoing.
Hanif, who is heading Shah Alam Sustainable Urban Drainage Master Plan, said the city council had divided its flood mitigation plans into five phases.
Phase one, involving the construction of pump houses in Persiaran Aman as well as infrastructure works in Taman Sri Muda, Jalan Saksama 25/39 and Jalan Khidmat 25/35, is almost completed.
On the other phases, Hanif said the tender process was causing delays in construction work.
“The river remains a major concern because when water levels are high, tidal effects and rain upstream can cause problems.
“Rain at the catchment area is also another concern if excess stormwater cannot be discharged by the river,” he said.
Discussions have been held with Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to look into the efficiency of the water pump system.
Fortunately, the city council’s existing water pumps in Wisma Rozali and Taman Mesra are functional and being maintained accordingly.
For the monsoon season, the city council has prepared 67 flood evacuation centres.
The 2021 floods also affected areas under Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj).
Acting president Mohd Fareez Mohd Ariss @ Mohd Hatta said the local authority spent more than RM200,000 on post-flood cleanup.
“This does not include repairs for drains in places like Kampung Nanding where entire infrastructures had collapsed and had to be rebuilt,” he said.
This year, the council has identified five hotspots.
They are Kampung Sungai Serai, the 10th and 18th mile of Jalan Hulu Langat, Kampung Jambu and Taman Muhibbah in Kajang town and Kampung Sesapan Batu Minangkabau in Beranang.
Five flood relief centres have also been identified – Dewan Dato’ Nadzir and Dewan Titiwangsa in Jalan Hulu Langat 14th mile, Dewan Sri Nanding, Dewan Batu 14 in Balakong and Dewan Orang Ramai Sungai Chua.
Each centre has a capacity to accommodate up to 30 families.
A motorcyclist riding through floods which occurred in December 2021 in Taman Melawis, Klang. — Filepic
“The Hulu Langat District and Land Office (PDT Hulu Langat), which will head disaster management at district level, also has a list of schools as well as houses of worship to be used as relief centres,” said Mohd Fareez.
PDT Hulu Langat chief assistant district officer (management services) Kristin Shamini Nedunchelian said 172 evacuation centres had been selected.
“We also have four centres to be used for distribution of food and other amenities.
“This was a lesson learnt from the 2021 floods, when access was cut off.
“In total, 1,200 personnel have been deployed,” said Kristin.
Since October, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) has been actively conducting disaster training and simulations in pre- paration for the monsoon season.
Training for 156 members from the Rapid Action Team (Pantas) was carried out in Lembah Jaya.
Exercises included water confidence, victim rescue, self-rescue techniques in water and handling of rescue boats.
MPAJ also has equipment on standby as part of its preparation, including water pumps, boats, kayak, life jackets and a drone.
The council said it had 12 temporary flood relief centres (PPS) in the event of a disaster.
Locations include Dewan Perbandaran MPAJ, Dewan Dato’ Ahmad Razali and community halls in Ukay Perdana, Taman Lembah Keramat, Cheras Hartamas, Kampung Pandan and Lembah Jaya.
Monsoon drains have also been cleaned to ensure the drainage system is not blocked by debris and vegetation.
MBSA Pantas team members carrying out flood simulation programmes at Tasik Shah Alam in October. — Courtesy of MBSA
Cleanup and repairs
Similarly, Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) said it had undertaken works to clean up drains.
It had also set up a special team comprising 20 personnel to be on standby for emergencies.
It added that it was working with Gombak Land and District Office to activate flood relief centres at community halls.
Sepang district officer Khairi Azali Ibrahim, who is also Sepang disaster management committee chairman, said small flood mitigation projects such as the deepening and widening of rivers and bund repairs were carried out.
He said the committee also carried out simulation exercises to ensure officers as well as resident representatives were trained to handle boats and evacuations during emergencies.
“We have tested all assets and machinery that will be used in case of emergency to ensure that all are in good condition.
“We have also procured communication tools to be used during network disruption,” he said.
Monsoon drains, such as this one in Pandan Indah, Ampang Jaya, have been cleared of overgrown vegetation. — Courtesy of MPAJ
Sepang Municipal Council president Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said eight multipurpose halls would be used as temporary relief centres.
The centres are in Taman Gemilang, Kampung Dato’ Ahmad Razali, Dengkil, Desa Pinggiran Putra, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Taman Mas, Sepang and Taman Tasik Cyberjaya.
“A total of 23 staff will be on standby under Pantas, while other volunteer officers will join any emergency rescue efforts.
“The council is ready to mobilise its assets, including three boats for flood relief works,” he said.
In Klang, the municipal council has activated its 24-hour operation room for the public to seek assistance or report emergencies.
Klang Municipal Council (MPK) president Noraini Roslan said drainage maintenance within the municipality had also been completed to the tune of RM5mil.
In addition, MPK had also carried out ad hoc cleaning for ditches that do not fall under its purview, such as Jalan Kasban in Meru, at a cost of RM200,000.
In efforts to deal with extreme weather and high tides at coastal areas, MPK Enforcement director Andry Arman Masrom said all of its assets and equipment for emergencies had been inspected and updated, including the addition of a new rescue boat.
Andry said its staff would jointly undertake rescue and post-flood operations with the Civil Defence Department, police, Fire and Rescue Department as well as Welfare Department.
“At local council level, we will be channelling crucial early information to district level and lend the necessary support during emergency situations.
“We have regular meetings internally and with other agencies to align our information and preparedness in response to weather conditions by the coastal areas,” he said.
Following a series of flash floods including a recent incident which saw the carpark and lower floors of a shopping mall submerged under 0.3m of water, Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) opened their flood alert systems (https://shorturl.at/gpzY6) to the public.
“We advise road users to monitor the system before travelling, especially on the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) which recorded the highest water level on Nov 5.
“Road users should avoid areas that are marked in red in the system,” said Subang Jaya deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali.
MBSJ has 88 temporary evacuation centres, of which 44 are new to the list.
The list was expanded after considering the vulnerability of downstream areas such as Kampung Bukit Lanchong, Kampung Kuala Sungai Baru, Kampung Tengah, Kampung Sri Aman and Kampung Kenangan.
Mohd Zulkurnain showing the MBSJ flood alert system at a press conference in Bandar Puchong Jaya.
Close monitoring
Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has carried out long-term flood management plans by building four on-site stormwater detention (OSD) facilities to manage heavy water flow in the city.
The facilities in Petaling Jaya are located at Taman Buana Perdana in PJS 3, which is ready, while the rest at Taman Sri Manja in PJS 3, Taman Dato’ Harun in PJS 2 and Taman Medan Baru in PJS 2 are 80% completed.
Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Aznan Hassan said MBPJ has stepped up preparation and was monitoring these locations via closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
“We have two boats, 46 small and heavy vehicles to help flood victims and 24 halls for temporary relief centres.
“MBPJ has 32 officers in its Pantas team, 42 disaster persons-in-charge and 110 volunteers.
“The Pantas team and Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team will also collaborate during emergencies,” he said.
In Kuala Langat, District and Land Office (PDT Kuala Langat) chief assistant district officer Mohd Fazlee Muhamad Latiff said because the district was the lowest lying area in Selangor, observation teams were dispatched to monitor shorelines from Jugra to Tanjung Sepat on a daily basis from 4.30am.
“Heavy rain coupled with high tide resulting in 5.6m-high waves can cause flooding here,” he said.
In Kuala Langat district, 405 personnel from various agencies are on standby for the monsoon season. — Courtesy of PDT Kuala Langat
In some areas like Kampung Bukit Changgang, flooding could even occur outside of the northeast monsoon season, he added.
For Kuala Langat, 115 evacuation centres have been identified.
To enable the dissemination of early warnings, the district has 10 siren alert systems, 11 telemetry stations and web cameras monitoring areas such as the confluence of Sungai Langat and Sungai Labu.
A total of 405 personnel from various agencies such as Fire and Rescue Department, the police as well as Public Works and Drainage and Irrigation departments are on standby.
“At the district disaster management committee meeting which took place at PDT Kuala Langat in October, even the rescue of pets and livestock was brought up.
“This had come from past experience where the piteous bleating of goats drowning in floodwaters had unnerved rescuers,” said Mohd Fazlee.
Meanwhile, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail said annual leave for its 1,553 firefighters had been frozen.
Should the need arise, they will also be required to be on duty for 24 hours.
Wan Md Razali also expressed gratitude to 700 volunteer firefighters who had stepped forward to help the department during emergencies.
“They are great assets to the local fire department and their communities,” he said, adding that all had undergone boat handling training and water rescue drills.
In preparation for impending emergencies, the department has on standby 92 boats, of which 11 are from its volunteers.
“With the Malaysian Red Crescent Society and other agencies, we are prepared to face any possibility,” he said.
The northeast monsoon season is expected to last until March next year.
