MB: Johor instals water pumps to drain stagnant floodwaters

 

The Johor government has begun installing water pumps throughout areas in Batu Pahat district affected by stagnant floodwaters.

Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state Drainage and Irrigation Department has also been told to seek additional water pumps from other states.

He said a flood coordination meeting, which includes discussions on welfare assistance for victims and also logistics for the district will be held soon.

“Quite a number of areas were hit by stagnant floodwater in Batu Pahat and, besides outflow difficulties, we were informed there will be high tides in a day or two,” he told reporters after launching the Johor MATTA Fair today.

Meanwhile, Onn Hafiz said he has written to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over early figures on the losses suffered from the floods and also on flood mitigation projects in the state, estimated to reach RM1 billion.

“The damage includes roads, crops, and pavements, early figures have been submitted to the prime minister including for flood mitigation projects. So we pray that it will be considered,” he said.

Pump installations in the district include the Parit Jambul and Separap watergates.

As of 4pm today, the State Disaster Management Committee said the number of flood victims in Johor stood at 44,089, with Batu Pahat recording the highest number at 37,563 people. 

- Bernama