MBJB’s Skuad Kilat will be on standby to respond to fallen trees and other emergencies. — Courtesy photo
Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) has allocated RM7.2mil for flood prevention measures in view of the upcoming monsoon season.
Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said 12 contractors had been appointed to carry out drainage repairs and maintenance works over the next three months.
“The works have started this month to address public complaints on drainage systems to reduce the risk of floods in the city,” he said during MBJB’s monthly full board meeting.
In addition, Mohd Noorazam said MBJB was constructing a weir and structure reinforcements at several flood hotspots such as Taman Tampoi Indah, Sungai Sengkuang and the Cemerlang industrial area.
He added that the council’s early flood warning system – equipped with closed-circuit television cameras, siren and smartphone monitoring – at Sungai Chat and Parit Utama Abdul Samad retention reservoirs were also in place.
Mohd Noorazam said MBJBalso had contractors tasked with cleaning drainage systems, rivers, and covered and underground drains, as well as to reinforce drainage structures, and maintain water pumps and rubbish catchment systems.
“To prepare for the wet season, we have already carried out excavations to deepen flood retention ponds in several areas including Sungai Pandan, Sungai Chat, Parit Utama Kempas and Sungai Taman Johor.
“MBJB’s Skuad Kilat (quick response squad) will also be on standby to respond to any emergencies, such as flash floods and fallen trees.
“This is an important aspect because we received reports of 20 cases of fallen trees in one night because of a recent storm,” added Mohd Noorazam.
According to the Meteorological Department, the inter-monsoon phase, which marks the end of the southwest monsoon, kicked in on Sept 24 and was expected to last until early November.
The monsoon transition phase is expected to bring winds from various directions across the country.
This situation may lead to thunderstorms that typically bring heavy rain and strong winds for short durations, particularly in the evenings in most areas of the west and interior of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as in west Sabah and west and central Sarawak.
