Flood victims mull suit against govt agencies

Klang residents have appointed four law firms to study the viability of a class action, says MP Santiago.

PETALING JAYA: Klang residents affected by last month’s massive floods are considering court action against the government agencies that they say failed to provide effective mitigation measures in the district.

Klang MP Charles Santiago of DAP said the residents had appointed four law firms to study the viability of a class action suit. The firms would make their proposals in a couple of weeks’ time, he added.

The agencies being blamed are the Selangor Irrigation and Drainage Department, the Public Works Department and the Klang Town Council.

The floods hit Klang and Port Klang on March 30, forcing 10 schools to cancel their classes.

Among the housing areas affected are Kampung Raja Uda, Taman Sri Andalas, Southern Park, Taman Bayu Perdana, Taman Melawis, Taman Sentosa, Taman Sungai Ujong, Taman Palm Grove and Padang Jawa.

The damages are said to run into millions of ringgit.

Santiago said Selangor’s Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) would conduct a hearing on the floods next week. He said he was collecting evidence for that hearing as well as for the lawsuit.

“The Selcat hearing will also help us determine whether there is a case we can file against the government agencies,” he added.

He also said he was disappointed that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia yesterday rejected his motion for a debate on the floods.

Another disappointment came when he found out that the Federal Government had not allocated funds for a flood mitigation project in Klang. He said he found this out from Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim.