SHAH ALAM, Sept 30 — Selangor will get the latest information from the State Legal Adviser to decide the next course of action on the lawsuit filed by Taman Sri Muda residents.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the review will include determining whether an appeal should be filed following yesterday’s High Court decision.
“We will obtain information from the State Legal Adviser to look at the next process, whether an appeal should be pursued or not, as this is only a decision by the High Court.
“There is still room for an appeal to be filed and made to provide justification,” he told the media after the launch of the Selangor Road and Highway Strategic Plan 2026-2035 (JALUR Selangor) at the State Secretariat Building today.
Yesterday, the High Court ruled that the government was responsible for the major flooding that occurred in Taman Sri Muda in December 2021, which caused millions of ringgit in losses to residents.
The decision came from a lawsuit filed by 50 residents who alleged that the authorities were negligent and failed to fulfil their responsibilities in responding to the disaster.
They sued the government and nine other parties, alleging that failures in flood management, drainage systems, weather warnings, and disaster response contributed to their losses.
As a result, the residents are seeking special damages amounting to RM3,767,148.51, in addition to general damages and aggravated damages.
Meanwhile, Amirudin said that flooding incidents in Sri Muda have decreased in frequency following various initiatives, including dredging works in the area.
“Over the past five years, or since 2021, Sri Muda has experienced very minimal incidents, some of which may have been relatively minor despite certain disturbances.
“We carried out dredging quite quickly, with the area receiving particular attention. We can see a 20 per cent increase in the capacity of the Klang River following the dredging works.
“The situation in Sri Muda is not as bad as it was previously, particularly in 2021. We have also improved the management and use of the floodgates, which are functioning well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kota Kemuning state assemblyman Preakas Sampunathan urged the federal government and state government to openly examine the grounds of the judgment and each of the court’s findings.
If the court identified weaknesses in planning, maintenance, early warnings, or coordination between agencies, those weaknesses must be rectified through clear and immediate action.
“For the people of Kota Kemuning, particularly those in Sri Muda and other areas that have previously been affected by floods, the most important question is whether they will be safer during heavy rain.
“Both (state and federal governments) need to state the corrective measures, the agencies responsible, and the timeframe for implementation so that residents can see genuine progress,” he said in a statement.
Preakas added that although he respects the legal process, the responsibility to protect the people did not need to wait until all legal processes were completed, and that victims' experiences and the court’s findings must serve as the basis for improving flood control and reducing the risk of loss of life and property.
