Snubbed by govt, neighbours join hands to end floods

 

Sobri Taib demonstrates how the water pump is used to drain the area of flood water.

KAJANG: Residents of Taman Sri Langat here learned an important lesson from floods in the area last year. If they wanted to avoid another disaster, they would have to take matters into their own hands.

That lesson came after the residents’ complaints to the local authorities and elected representatives had fallen on deaf ears.

This year, the residents in the multiracial neighbourhood banded together to buy two water pumps to drain the waterlogged areas and channel the water to nearby Sungai Langat.

They made a house-to-house collection for funds to buy their first pump in January.

One of the water pumps the residents bought after a collection among themselves.

“We didn’t specify an amount. People paid us what they could afford. But every contribution counted,” said one resident who only wanted to be known as Lee.

The 64-year old said some donated thousands, adding it was a small price to pay in the long run.

Lee, who has been living in Taman Sri Langat for 35 years, knew of some residents who had lost up to RM100,000 in damage to goods and property from the floods.

But there were also residents who were reluctant to fund the water pumps, according to one Kak Noor.

“Some told us outright to get the money from the YB (Kajang assemblyman Hee Loy Sian). The Selangor government only gave us RM500 and two mattresses per household,” she said of the official aid.

Residents building the pump house at Taman Sri Langat.

Since the purchase of the first pump in January, Taman Sri Langat has been flood-free. Still, the residents bought a second pump in August and built a RM57,000 pump house to protect the equipment from damage and theft.

Apart from collecting funds, the residents used excavators from two contractors who are residents to help prepare the pumphouse location, according to Sobri Taib.

“We wrote to the authorities several times and nothing happened. So we decided to do it ourselves,” said Sobri, 39, who has been a resident for 10 years.

And because of their efforts, they say they do not lose sleep now even when the meteorological department forecasts heavy rain.

The group also went the extra mile, installing CCTVs at a few houses next to the monsoon drain to monitor the water levels each time it rained heavily.

It also established an “emergency exit” for residents to drive out of the neighbourhood should the water level rise.

The residents say they will continue to work together and maintain the pumps.

“You can’t place a value on the lives of our families and our homes here. We will do what we can to keep this neighbourhood safe,” said Sobri. - FMT