SHAH ALAM, June 26 — The Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) has allocated RM556 million to carry out 103 flood mitigation and infrastructure maintenance projects aimed at reducing the risk of flash floods.
Its director Datuk Mohammad Nazri Yasmin, said that as of now, 36 projects have been completed, while another 15 are currently under construction.
“We will prioritise flood control plans in hotspot areas, followed by flood control works in at-risk zones.
“Flood-prone areas will focus on maintenance and improvement of flood control facilities to reduce the risk of flash floods,” he told Media Selangor.
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Selangor Department of Irrigation (JPS) and Drainage director Datuk Mohammad Nazri Yasmin holds up an explainer during his interview with Media Selangor at the State Secretariat Building in Shah Alam on May 9, 2025. — Picture by AHMAD ZAKKI JILAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Regarding the assessment of flood prevention project effectiveness, Nazri said that flood frequency serves as a benchmark.
“If no more than three flood incidents occur within three years after a project is completed, it is considered to have met the standard; otherwise, it remains a hotspot,” he said.
Nazri cited i-City in Shah Alam as an example, where recurring floods throughout the year were eliminated following the implementation of a flood prevention plan, serving as a model of effective water management.
Looking ahead to the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan, the authorities have submitted 91 new flood prevention proposals amounting to a total of RM1.4 billion.
These include increasing river water transport capacity, constructing additional flood retention ponds and rainwater detention ponds, and enhancing drainage infrastructure in high-risk areas.
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State executive councillor for public infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim (second from right) speaking to personnel during his site visit to the flood mitigation repair works along Jalan Bagan Pasir in Tanjong Karang, Kuala Selangor, on August 20, 2024. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Long-term water management plan
He added that the Selangor JPS supports the RM5 billion water highway plan, which will connect water channels from Kuala Lumpur to Sungai Klang and discharge directly into the sea.
“The Klang Valley is developing rapidly. The original river channels can no longer accommodate heavy rainfall. The drainage highway will be a crucial piece of infrastructure for future flood control and water resource delivery,” Nazri said.
The director stressed that in a rapidly urbanising environment, flood retention ponds and reservoirs are essential core facilities.
“If all rainwater is diverted straight into rivers, it may overwhelm the drainage system, particularly in coastal areas," he said.
Nazri cited Klang, Kuala Selangor, Sepang, and Sabak Bernam as examples, where floodgates must be closed during high tide, making it easier for heavy rain to cause flooding.
“The role of flood retention ponds is to store rainwater during high tide and release it when the tide recedes, effectively reducing disaster risks," he said.
The design standards for flood retention ponds in different areas must be tailored to local conditions. For example, a free-flow design may be suitable in Gombak, but tidal interference must be considered in coastal regions.
In September last year, state executive councillor for agriculture and infrastructure Izham Hashim announced that the state government had proposed a RM5 billion water highway plan, which would connect water channels from Kuala Lumpur to Sungai Klang and discharge directly into the sea.
The water highway, similar to a water channel or tunnel, is intended to channel excess water to the sea, thereby resolving flood issues in the Klang Valley.
He said the plan was submitted to the Federal government and focuses on the low-lying areas of the valley that are frequently affected by floods.
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Deputy Prime Minister cum National Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi inspects the Kota Kinabalu Lido Flood Mitigation Plan in Sabah on February 24, 2025. — Picture via FACEBOOK/ZAHID HAMIDI[/caption]
