The uncovered monsoon drains would be flooded with water during heavy rain, ocassionally giving the illusion of a covered pathway and sometimes causing people to fall into them, explained Wanita MCA Cheras division chairperson Heng Sinn Yee (woman in white T-shirt)
STALLED cars have become commonplace in Taman Segar as the problem of flooding turns from bad to worse with the rainy season.
The neighbourhood in Cheras has been grappling with flash floods for at least 10 years, said resident Daniel Liew, 58, at a press conference on April 25.
According to Liew, the intersection between Persiaran Lemak and Jalan Lemak serves as the main entrance and exit point into Jalan Cheras.
“There is a jungle at the top of a hill, and the junction is at the lower end of the slope.
“During heavy rain, branches from the trees fall and are washed downwards, clogging up the drainage system and making the floods worse.
“Once the rain stops, it usually takes about half an hour to an hour for the floodwaters to recede,” he said.
Wan Ahmad Sefwan, 70, the operator of a petrol station at the intersection, said his business was affected by the flood problem.
“Water gushes down every time there is heavy rainfall, and because we are at the lowest point of an incline, whenever the junction becomes flooded, the area gets jam packed with traffic," he said.
Wan Ahmad said cars would stall in front of the station as the water level rose.
An employee at the petrol station Muhamad Azizul Islam, 31, added that the floods that occured every time it rained could reach as high as waist level.
“Every time it floods, there is at least one or two cars that stall and cannot be restarted because water had gone into the engine.
“The worst instance was when three cars stalled," he said.
Muhamad revealed that he had already helped several people push their stalled cars in front of the station and also within the neighbourhood.
Coffee-shop employee Quah Eng Guan, 61, said the drains in the commercial area might be contributing to the floods.
“The drains are always clogged and full of water, even when it was not raining for the past two years.
“I think it causes the area to flood quicker,” he said, adding that he worried it might have also led to dengue cases in the housing area nearby.
Alam Flora Sdn Bhd representative Sufian Saharuddin, who was at the press conference, said there was a schedule for contractors to follow on cleaning drains within the area.
“The drains are cleaned once every month – but one of the problems in these commercial areas are the renovations, with restaurants and business paving over public drainage and restricting proper flow of water.
“We are also planning to carry out a gotong-royong soon as well,” said Sufian.
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