Five floods a year is too much, says Anwar

 The prime minister said he asked the Selangor authorities to increase the frequency of drain maintenance work, among other measures.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said federal assistance for flood victims was raised to RM2,500, while Selangor government assistance had risen to RM3,000. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has instructed the Selangor government, irrigation and drainage department and other relevant agencies to expedite flood mitigation measures in the state, including increasing the frequency of drain maintenance work.

He said he was told at a special meeting yesterday that the Selangor government had allocated additional funds for drain maintenance, and instructed the state’s local councils to carry out the work immediately.

“The drains in Kuala Lumpur are not cleaned twice, but six times a year, which has helped reduce flooding.

“When floods occur four to five times a year in Selangor, it burdens the people. Though the floodwaters do not rise high, it remains a burden when they happen five times a year. I cannot accept it,” he was quoted by Berita Harian as saying after Friday prayers in Brickfields today.

Anwar said the federal government had increased financial assistance for flood victims from RM1,000 to RM2,500, while the Selangor government’s assistance had risen from RM500 to RM3,000.

“We must do what we can. Heavy rainfall and rising water levels cannot be controlled, but every additional measure we take will reduce the public’s burdens,” he said. - FMT