SHAH ALAM, Oct 1 — The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) will plan its next moves after the High Court ruled that the government is responsible for the massive December 2021 floods in Taman Sri Muda.
“MBSA respects the court’s decision and will review the matter to decide further action, including whether to appeal the decision, subject to relevant legal provisions and established procedures,” MBSA Corporate and Public Relations Department director Mohd Fauzi Aziz Maamor said in a brief response to Media Selangor.
He had been asked to comment on the implications of the court ruling, MBSA’s plans to better mitigate floods, and whether MBSA would review its drainage maintenance procedures and responsibilities.
On Tuesday, 50 Taman Sri Muda residents won a suit against the government over negligence and breach of duty in connection with the devastating 2021 floods, which killed 12 residents and caused millions of ringgit in losses to locals.
The residents had sued the government and nine other parties, alleging failures in flood management, drainage systems, weather warnings, and disaster response, and sought special damages amounting to RM3,767,148.51 in addition to general and aggravated damages.
The respondents were the Malaysian government, the National Disaster Management Agency’s (NADMA) director-general, the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions), the Meteorological Department’s (MetMalaysia) director-general, and the environment and water minister.
The ruling held the Selangor branch of the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) and MBSA jointly liable with the federal government, with the court saying MBSA cannot avoid its statutory responsibilities by arguing that retention ponds and primary infrastructure are under JPS.
Yesterday, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the state government will consult Selangor Legal Adviser Mohamad Onn Abd Aziz to decide its course of action, including whether to file an appeal.
