Flood mitigation: KL deserves more than sandbags, says Yeoh

 

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh told Kuala Lumpur City Hall that it’s not rocket science that it has to change how it tackled frequent flooding and called for river deepening works in four main rivers in Segambut to start urgently.

“KL deserves more than sandbags. The cause of the flooding is overflowing (of rivers).

“If the rapid flood waters can rip out the solid metal blue railings along the river, these sandbags don’t stand a chance,” she said, pointing at weather-beaten sandbags with their contents spilling out as she spoke to the media standing near Sungai Keroh, today.

Yeoh was accompanied by members of residents’ associations from flood-prone areas in the district.

“The rainy season is upon us, and I don’t see any critical upgrades to the rivers or any flood mitigation works that clearly reflect a solution to frequent flooding in the district.

“You know this is a problem in Kuala Lumpur. Why can’t we take immediate action to upgrade the condition of these rivers, use the existing budget and dig out all the sand?

“Other countries have implemented modern solutions. Why can’t we implement them in Kuala Lumpur,” she said, questioning the outdated method during her site visit.

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh

Yeoh said Sungai Toba in Kampung Masjid Segambut and Sungai Ara in Kampung Sungai Penchala were also prone to bursting their banks and flooding their surrounding neighbourhoods.

She said City Hall had placed sandbags as temporary mitigative measures along certain stretches of these three rivers, which were now sprouting wild grass.

Another river that needed upgrade works to deepen its depths was Sungai Batu, under the responsibility of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

Yeoh said she received updates from DID confirming that work to deepen the river has not yet commenced either.

“We cannot wait to act only when it starts flooding.

“We need to change the way we work, and river deepening works must be done monthly at least and not twice or four times a year because it is flooding more frequently now.

“The RM1,000 or RM1,500 hand out are not enough for residents who are facing thousands in damages and loss of property,” she reasoned.

Yeoh said Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim’s plan to build an underground retention pond would take too long to implement, and residents needed immediate solutions.

She recommended that the minister consider modern solutions like portable barriers that Singapore adopted.

Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim

Officials stationed under white tents

Yeoh also appealed to City Hall to change the way it addressed project approvals and give priority to the flooding issue.

“They have not changed the way they work. They continue to approve other development projects, but their infrastructure cannot cope,” she said.

Yeoh also called on City Hall to coordinate its efforts with DID and commence the upgrade work without delay.

She admitted that while there was visible mitigating work already done, it was insufficient if the urgently needed river deepening work had not started.

Yeoh also took time to address the purpose of government officials stationed under white tents at certain sections of the rivers.

“I feel sorry for government officers stationed by the river under white tents monitoring the water levels in the river.

“When the water rises rapidly, what can they do? Shut down the white tents and allow these City Hall officers to return to work,” she urged. - Mkini