INTER-AGENCY coordination must be improved among authorities and agencies in Shah Alam to better manage floods that are getting more frequent.
Shah Alam City Council (MBSA)councillor Simon Siow, who is in charge of Setia Alam, said cleaning of drainage infrastructure was vital.
MBSA’s preparations to handle flash floods and monsoon-linked inundation needed improvement, he noted.
“There was flood in Setia Alam on Aug 20 that was linked to overflow of water from a flood detention pond onto the road.
“The rain that triggered the flood did not last long but it was heavy,” Siow said during MBSA’s full board meeting.
“I believe the problem was worsened by upgrading works in Klang, which is under the purview of either the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) or Klang Royal City Council.
“There was a subsequent meeting on Aug 26 involving MBSA, Klang and Petaling DID as well as Public Works Department to coordinate flood-related matters, but I have not seen anything being done since to address flooding in Setia Alam,” he said.
Siow said although Klang DID suggested an on-site detention pond in Setia Alam as a solution, he believed existing infrastructure was sufficient to cope as long as it was maintained and functioned at full capacity.
“There is a need to carry out desilting and cleaning works in earth drains.
“The capacity of existing earth drains would have reduced over the years, resulting in an overflow after heavy rain,” he said, adding that these were his observations as a layman and that technical expertise was needed from MBSA’s Engineering Department.
Mohd Fauzi: Drainage hotspots cleaned weekly.
Responding to Siow’s suggestion, Shah Alam mayor Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim said flood mitigation was complex as it involved multiple agencies, allocations from different authorities and drains with unidentified landowners.“On MBSA’s part, we have stepped up drain cleaning in anticipation of the northeast monsoon,” he said.
“We are working with KDEB Waste Management to clean hotspot areas on a weekly basis.”
He added that cleaning works started in early October and would go on until the year end.
“We are focusing on scupper drains that tend to be filled with dried leaves, construction waste and silt, which reduces efficiency to channel excess water,” said Mohd Fauzi.
He said Shah Alam’s topography made it more prone to floods.
He also said that MBSA’s quick-response squad (Pantas), assets and temporary evacuation centres were on standby to deal with any emergencies.
Pantas squad members, he said, had undergone training to ensure they were prepared to deal with potential emergencies stemming from the monsoon.
On MBSA’s flood mitigation plan for this year, Mohd Fauzi said it would cost RM15.3mil.
Shah Alam has 25 flood hotspots including Taman Mesra (Section U2), Kampung Merbau Sempak (Section U17), Paya Jaras, Taman Bukit Kemuning (Section 32) and Kampung Kebun Bunga (Section 22).
