Time to review PJ’s flood management, says MP

Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung says the flash floods over the past two weeks raise questions about the city’s current approach.

Flooded roads in Section 51A, Petaling Jaya, during the flash floods this evening. (Facebook pic) 

PETALING JAYA:

 Petaling Jaya’s flood management system needs to be reviewed following flash floods that hit several parts of the city this evening, says MP Lee Chean Chung.

He said it was especially concerning that the floods this evening were the latest of several that had hit the city over the past two weeks.

Lee said the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had recently said the new local plan would account for development density and outline flood mitigation systems and infrastructure.

MBPJ said the local plan would also include designs to handle “once-in-a-hundred-years” events.

“However, these recurrent floods have raised questions that deserve serious attention. Our current approach to flood management needs to be reviewed,” he said in a Facebook post tonight.

Lee said he would ask MBPJ to submit a report as soon as possible to identify the cause of the floods and propose effective measures to prevent their recurrence.

Section 51A, which was among the areas affected today, was also hit on April 18 by flash floods described by local traders as the worst in 30 years, according to a Harian Metro report.

The flash floods today, which followed heavy rain and strong winds, also inundated several main roads, including the Kuchai Link from Sungai Besi to Jalan Klang Lama in Kuala Lumpur.

A total of eight vehicles were trapped in the floods in three separate locations – Jalan Awan Kecil in Taman OUG, Jalan Kuchai Lama heading towards Jalan Klang Lama, and inside the Kuala Lumpur-Seremban Highway tunnel. - FMT