HOMEOWNERS affected by a flash flood in Taman Seri Alam, Bandar Saujana Utama, are seeking RM10,000 each in damages from the developer.
Paya Jaras assemblyman Datuk Dr Ab Halim Tamuri said the incident on the evening of Dec 29 in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, marked the second time the bund for a water retention pond in the neighbourhood collapsed.
“The first time the bund broke was in 2015 and it caused flash floods,” said Ab Halim.
“The developer, which is responsible for maintaining the bund, had repaired it and gave RM1,000 compensation to every affected household.
“This time, the bund broke at the same place and the flash flood was far more severe, affecting about 200 houses, of which 100 suffered significant damages.”
Ab Halim said vehicles were also damaged.
“The residents are upset over the quality of repair works and want the developer to compensate them for their losses,” he said when contacted.
Repairs being carried out at the collapsed bund in Bandar Saujana Utama. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
Ab Halim said the developer had agreed to repair the bund immediately and that it would be of a better quality.
He said the developer’s representatives had agreed to complete repair works within a month, during a site visit with officers from the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS) and the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department.
“Work has already begun. An excavator was brought in to start clearing the site for repair works,” said Ab Halim.
He also suggested the state government look into ways to close the water retention pond and relocate it in the future.
“The pond’s location is not suitable as it is very close to residential properties and on higher ground,” said Ab Halim.
MPKS councillor Maisarah Ismail said although the flash flood was bad, no residents were relocated during the incident.
“The water rose to knee high for about an hour and receded quickly,” she said.
“The residents also said the flooding happened very fast and there was nothing much that they could do.
“They are very angry over the matter because the bund broke in the same area,” she added.
Maisarah said she distributed food packs to affected residents for lunch yesterday, as many were busy cleaning up their homes.
