Perikatan Nasional’s (PN’s) Larkin candidate Zulkifli Bujang swung into action yesterday when an evening downpour flooded a local community garden as he waded in knee-deep water to survey the damage.
The community garden, managed by the Surau Ar-Rahman committee members in Kampung Dato' Onn Jaafar, Larkin Jaya, saw their cash crops and seedlings destroyed while fish and prawns were washed away from a pond in the garden.
The residents, who were unable to salvage the garden by the side of the mosque due to rapidly rising floodwater, blamed the construction of the nearby Gemas-Johor Bahru double-tracking and electrification project for the flood.
A mosque committee member, Sallehudin Saidon, 60, said flash floods have become a regular occurrence since the construction works began two years ago.
"This time we were lucky that the water did not reach the insides of the mosque," said Sallehudin, adding that the residents had considered taking legal action to halt the project.
The Meteorological Department has issued regular bad weather warnings for Johor Bahru in the past week but yesterday's thunderstorm was the worst since campaigning started for the Johor polls last Saturday.
The Gemas-Johor Bahru part of the project involves the double-tracking and electrification of rail lines extending for 192km, about 9km away from the AgroTiong community garden.
Farm produce is for the local community
Sallehudin said the community garden started in 2017 and the farm produce are sold to the local community.
"Here we have banana trees, chilli plants and other cash crops," he said.
He lamented that past engagements with local authorities to resolve the flash floods have proven futile.
Floodwaters had previously also caused damage to the mosque and Sallehudin said repair works undertaken so far had cost close to RM100,000. The sum was partly covered through donations by Umno veteran Shahrir Samad, the former Johor Bahru MP and a regular congregant at the mosque.
At close to dusk, several men were seen hosing the mosque entrance and mopping mud from its white tiled floor, until the call for evening prayer sounded from its speakers.
PN's Zulkifli, a lieutenant of Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin, arrived at the scene about 6.30pm yesterday to assess the situation.
‘Developer must take corrective actions’
"I was informed that this problem was due to the ongoing construction, so I feel that the developer must take corrective actions.
"They told me this has been a recurring problem since 2019. I hope urgent action will be taken to avoid another incident," Zulkifli told journalists.
Malay-daily Sinar Harian reported on Nov 23, 2020, that the mosque sustained an estimated RM80,000 in damages, believed to be due to the inadequate irrigation around the rail project.
The report at the time also quoted mosque authorities who blamed obstructed water flow into the nearby Sungai Sebulung tributary.
Zulkifli is facing BN's Hairi Md Shah, PKR's Zamil Najwah Arbain, Muda's Rasid Abu Bakar and Pejuang's Mohamad Riadz Mohamad Hashim in Larkin.
Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. - Mkini
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