IOI Mall wants flood woes solved

Subang Jaya Municipal Council agrees to upgrade drainage system.

PETALING JAYA: The management of IOI Mall in Puchong is concerned that the rainy season will cause more flash floods in the mall’s open air car park.

Its chief operating officer Cheah Wing Choong, said the mall was concerned about those who parked their vehicles at the open air car park.

“During the last heavy rainfall on Tuesday, about 30 of our customer’s vehicles were inundated by the floodwaters which had risen up to the top of the car tires.

“Luckily, they were able to start their vehicles,” he said.

Cheah stressed that the floods had been recurring for years.

“On our part, the drainage system is well managed within the mall; it is the external monsoon drains which are causing the overflow not only in front of the mall, but also on the Lebuhraya-Damansara Puchong (LDP) side,” he said.

Cheah said that over the years, the mall had received many complaints about the flooding at the car park.

“I’ve lost count of how many complaints were lodged.

“But the most affected are the motorists using the LDP coming from KL and heading towards Puchong.

“We need an end to this issue and we are appealing to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) and the authorities to look into the matter,” he said.

It was reported on Tuesday that thousands of motorists were stuck in a crawl lasting over an hour on the LDP due to flash floods.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who visited the site this morning with MPSJ president Nor Hisham and Kinrara assemblyman Ng Sze Han, said that from initial reports he had seen, it appeared that the rain was unusually heavy two days ago in the area.

“Over the years MPSJ has upgraded the drainage in the area, but it was inadequate for the heavy flow that day,” said Gobind.

“There are some areas where the drains are clogged and cleaning works are in progress.

Gobind said the drains outside the IOI Mall car park along the highway needed to be upgraded so as to facilitate better outflow of water that was collected during a storm.

“We have identified a possible route today to upgrade the drainage system. MPSJ will prepare a brief on the proposal immediately,” he said.

“Every hour there is a threat of flooding in the area. MPSJ has to work on it fast as this involves thousands of motorists as well as residents,” he said. -FMT