SHAH ALAM, Nov 7 — The state government’s quick-win flood mitigation initiatives launched last year have successfully reduced the impact of flooding, particularly in hotspots frequently affected by flash floods.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the state is now focusing on implementing immediate mitigation measures rather than relying solely on long-term solutions.
“One of the best examples is Jalan 222 in Petaling Jaya. The area had experienced flooding twice before. Following our quick-win initiative to build a temporary retention pond, it remained flood-free during recent heavy rain despite high water levels in Sungai Penchala.
“In Padang Jawa, we have managed to prevent flooding through several measures in an area that was previously frequently affected. We have also resolved the issue in Taman Mutiara, Bukit Raja.
“The latest example is the area in front of i-City. Just last week, we approved the installation of pumps and a sluice gate. Thankfully, i-City is now free from flooding, contrary to the usual claims made previously,” he told Media Selangor.
On October 28, state executive councillor for infrastructure Dato’ Izham Hashim said 70 per cent of the 255 flood mitigation projects under Selangor’s quick-win approach had been completed, involving an allocation of nearly RM70 million.
He said the projects, which focus on areas prone to flash floods, were being implemented through collaboration between the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS), local authorities and the Public Works Department (JKR).
However, Amirudin acknowledged that the flooding problem in Kampung Melayu Subang has yet to be fully resolved as the mitigation project in the area requires a longer implementation period.
He noted that the project was awarded in 2024, but its implementation had taken time due to several processes that needed to be completed, including land acquisition and project design preparations.
As such, the state government would hold discussions to identify work components that could be prioritised to expedite mitigation efforts.
“We will discuss which aspects should be prioritised. We have requested that river dredging be carried out first to increase the river’s capacity,” he said.
Commenting on flooding in Meru, Amirudin said conditions in the area has improved, with several mitigation measures helping to prevent the severe flooding previously experienced there.
He said several areas that were frequently affected by floods, including Binjai and Pekan Meru, had shown positive progress, with no major flooding reported despite receiving unusually heavy rainfall.
“This shows that Meru is no longer severely affected, even when rainfall reaches levels that would previously have caused major flooding.
“We previously focused on long-term projects, but we are now reassessing which measures are more urgent and should be implemented first,” he said.
