Flooding of Kepong road upsets motorists

 

When Jalan Metro Perdana Timur floods, motorcyclists are drenched by passing cars. — SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star

FOR over five years, residents of Laman Rimbunan in Kepong have been experiencing flooding at Jalan Metro Perdana Timur.

Long-time resident Steven Ng said the flooding had worsened over the years and it now took about two days for the floodwaters to subside.

“The flooding causes cars to stall. Motorcyclists are unable to get through the flooded road and are drenched by splashing water when cars drive past.

“We suspect the drain beside the road and connecting monsoon drain are clogged.”

Ng added that when the township was built over 28 years ago, the developer planted trees on the pavements.

“The trees have now grown and we suspect the roots are clogging the drains below,” he said, in calling for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to address the issue.

Community activist Yee Poh Ping said residents suffer each time it rains heavily.

“We hope DBKL can remove the concrete drain covers to identify the problem.”

Yee also raised the issue of Taman Usahawan Kepong business owners who were unhappy about the implementation of the paid parking system there.

They claimed that industrial areas should be exempted from parking fees.

Air conditioning business owner Kris Loh said she had 10 employees who drive to work daily and park there.

“They come to work as early as 8am sometimes and stay on until late evening.

“They will be burdened by the parking charges. This is gazetted as an industrial area and those who come here are mostly our workers.

“People do not drive in and out from here, unlike at commercial areas,” said Loh.

Yee said there were 11 areas where DBKL had implemented the paid parking system.

Among the affected areas are Jinjang Selatan, Jinjang Utara, Kepong Baru, Metro Prima-Magna Park, Pekan Kepong, Taman Petaling Kepong, Taman Sri Segambut, Taman Usahawan Kepong, Sri Edaran Kepong, Laman Rimbunan Kepong and Pusat Kepong.

“Taman Usahawan Kepong and Sri Edaran Kepong are industrial areas and DBKL should not impose parking fees there.

“However, the rest of the areas are commercial and it is fair to impose parking charges,” said Yee. - Star