Flash flood woes persist in Jinjang Selatan despite drainage upgrade in 2019

RESIDENTS of Jinjang Selatan in Kuala Lumpur continue to suffer flash floods during downpours despite a drainage upgrade made several years ago.

In 2019, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) widened and deepened some of the drains along Jalan Jambu Arang.

However, resident Albert Wong, 70, said the upgrade had not made a difference as his house would still get flooded after a downpour.

“My home has been flooded four times this year.

“It does not make sense that the upgrading works did not at least reduce the severity of the floods,” he said.

Wong said he had complained to DBKL and hoped the authorities would remedy the situation.

Shopowner Kon Wong, 38, said he had to make sure that all his goods were stored at least 1m high so that they would not be damaged in flash floods.

The drains in Jinjang Selatan are too shallow and cannot cope with the amount of water, especially after a downpour.

“Each time the floods occur, I lose several thousands of ringgit as most of my stock are paper-based prayer items,” he said, adding that his family had been operating the shop along Jalan Jambu Air Mawar for the past 20 years.

Community activist Yee Poh Ping said although DBKL had upgraded part of the drainage at Jalan Jambu Arang, it had not resolved the flood problem.

“The neighbourhood’s drainage system cannot cope with the amount of water during heavy rain because the entire stretch needs to be repaired.

“The older drains downstream have not been widened or deepened which causes a backflow and floods the area.

“Some houses experience water levels reaching up to about 2m high,” he said, adding that the floods’ intensity had not reduced despite the 2019 upgrade.

Yee said there had not been any update on the drainage issue since DBKL officers visited the site last year.