MCA questions effectiveness of RM700m flood mitigation projects after repeated Selangor floods

 

AN MCA leader has called for a more comprehensive approach to flood prevention, questioning whether the nearly RM700 mil allocated for flood mitigation projects in Selangor will deliver lasting solutions for affected residents.

MCA Selangor State Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Lawrence Low’s remarks follow repeated flooding in Kampung Melayu Subang, where residents have reportedly experienced four flood incidents within a month, leaving some struggling to clean up and restore their homes before being hit by another round of flooding.

Low said the recurring incidents had caused considerable inconvenience, property damage and financial losses, while disrupting families’ daily lives.

He was responding to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s directive on Nov 3 to expedite the Sungai Buloh and Sungai Damansara Flood Mitigation Projects (RTB), which have received nearly RM700 mil in federal funding.

The Prime Minister issued the directive after visiting flood victims at the temporary relief centre in Kampung Melayu Subang.

He said the projects should proceed without delay, with measures including river dredging, widening and the construction of additional retention ponds.

The two projects, comprising separate phases, are reportedly between 30% and 60% complete, depending on the components involved. The government has also outlined immediate measures to address flooding while the larger projects are being completed.

Low acknowledged the federal government’s approval of the projects and the commencement of some implementation works, but stressed that residents needed assurance that the investments would effectively reduce flood risks.

(Image: Bernama)

“However, the question remains: will these projects genuinely address the longstanding flooding problems affecting Selangor residents? We do not want projects worth hundreds of millions of ringgit to become merely temporary solutions that fail to effectively reduce flood risks,” he said.

He also pointed to the impact of Selangor’s rapid development, saying the construction of residential, commercial and industrial areas, alongside new infrastructure, must be accompanied by better drainage planning and water management.

“The Selangor state government also needs to ensure that all development projects take into account their impact on surrounding areas, particularly water flow and drainage systems,” Low continued.

“Flood prevention cannot rely solely on RTB infrastructure projects; it requires more comprehensive and well-coordinated development planning.”

Low said the federal and Selangor governments, both administered by Pakatan Harapan, should adopt a more holistic approach rather than concentrating solely on accelerating physical flood mitigation works.

He added that flooding in Selangor was a longstanding problem and residents deserved solutions that addressed its underlying causes.

“The government needs to demonstrate that this nearly RM700 mil allocation will deliver tangible improvements, rather than remain merely an impressive figure in an announcement, to guarantee that their homes, belongings and families’ safety will no longer be at risk every time heavy rain falls,” he said. ‒  Focus Malaysia