By Nazli Ibrahim
HULU LANGAT, Dec 8 — Residents of Taman Seri Nanding, who are frequently affected by floods, are hoping that the flood mitigation plan for the Hulu Langat area will be expedited to prevent repeated damage to homes and property.
They said the recent floods rose too quickly, leaving some without enough time to save essentials, while thick mud carried by the currents made cleaning both inside and outside their homes extremely difficult.
Taman Seri Nanding resident Rohana Mohamed, 62, said her house has been flooded four times since September, causing almost all her household items to be damaged.
She described the most recent flood as one of the worst, with water rising to thigh level.
“This flooding started in early September. That month alone we had two floods. Then it happened again in November and December — twice.
“In September, the water only reached knee level, but this fourth flood was up to my thighs. The refrigerator toppled over, the cupboard doors came off, the washing machine was submerged, and the mattresses and pillows were all ruined,” she said when met at a relief aid handover event by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) at Sekolah Rendah Agama Dusun Nanding yesterday.
Another resident, Hamadah Mat Isa, 63, said water began entering her home at about 6.30 am and only receded in the evening, leaving her wooden furniture and cupboards unusable.
Her family also had to evacuate to a temporary relief centre (PPS) after the water reached knee level.
“At home, the water rose up to my knees. The wardrobe, wooden chairs and dining table were damaged. The flood lasted almost a full day — the water started entering at 6.30 am and only receded by evening,” she said.
A house filled with mud
Another victim, Hasnita Ahmad Saleh, 63, said this flood was unexpected because the water rose too quickly from a large drain nearby, leaving them time to save only a small portion of their important belongings.
“When the flood happened, we didn’t expect the water to enter so fast. Usually, when it comes from the big drain, there’s still time to move things, but this time it suddenly rushed in.
“We only managed to rescue whatever we could. For mattresses, there was no time — the water was already knee-deep. All the pillows, blankets and mattresses were damaged,” she said.
For Azrul Sidek, 47, the latest incident may not have been as severe as the major 2021 floods, but the mud that entered the house made cleaning far more challenging.
He said some homes had water up to waist level, with about three centimetres of mud covering the floors.
“This flood wasn’t like the one in 2021, but it brought mud. The mud in our house was around three centimetres thick, and the water level inside was around one foot. Some houses had water up to the waist, but I live at the back, so it wasn’t as bad as those in front,” he said.
He estimated losses at around RM5,000 as his car was also flooded, and clothes and other items had to be sent for cleaning after being soaked in mud.
Residents in the area hope that flood mitigation works, river deepening and drainage improvements can be accelerated to ensure rainwater flows more smoothly and reduce the risk of recurring floods in low- and mid-lying areas.
Flood project needs time
On September 16, Dusun Tua state assemblyman Datuk Johan Abd Aziz said the Federal government had approved RM512 million for a flood mitigation project (RTB) along Sungai Langat, which is currently at the technical study-stage by consultants.
He said consultants are examining which parts of the river need deepening or widening, the areas involved and the land acquisition requirements — a process that requires expertise and time before physical work can begin.
Johan added that the state government is also carrying out smaller-scale flood mitigation projects, including RM10 million allocations each for Kampung Batu 16 and Kampung Batu 10 Cheras, as well as nearly RM2 million for deepening Sungai Sering and replacing an old bridge.
