SHAH ALAM, April 21 — Selangor uses various modern water management technologies from developed countries to address flooding, but their success has been limited due to geographic and weather differences, said state executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Dato’ Izham Hashim.
He added that technologies from countries like the Netherlands, China and Germany must be adjusted to local needs, including by considering rainfall and building density.
He said a much heavier annual rainfall compared with countries like the Netherlands makes Selangor’s water management infrastructure needs more challenging.
“For example, a country like the Netherlands receives around 700 to 900mm of rain a year, while Selangor gets around 3,000mm, nearly four times that,” he told a press conference at the Wisma DNS lobby here today.
Izham said the state government assessed and adapted technology from China to build the Sabak Bernam smart city, and systems from Germany are employed in Hulu Selangor, adding that these approaches must be coordinated with local needs to ensure effective long-term water management.
He also said rapid urban development contributes to flash floods, as green areas that function as rain sponges shrink.
“In urban areas, rain flows straight into drains and rivers as there are fewer green areas to absorb the water.
“Among the main solutions for flash floods is retention ponds, which hold water before it can be released in a controlled manner,” he explained, adding that the state government has identified hundreds of existing ponds to be used as additional retention ponds.
“There are around 600 existing ponds across Selangor, including around 185 ponds with the potential to be optimised as retention ponds,” he said.
Meanwhile, Izham shared that flood mitigation projects worth RM4 billion in Selangor are at various stages of progress.
“These projects will take nearly three to four years to complete as they involve hydrology studies, design, and land reclamation,” he said.
Yesterday, in a Royal address at the First Meeting of the Fourth Term of the 15th Selangor State Legislative Assembly, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj expressed disappointment over recurring floods in the state despite His Royal Highness’ multiple reminders to resolve the issue.
