Mohd Jafni (right) speaking to some of the stall owners at the Women Inspiring Knowledge (WINS) programme in IOI Mall, Kulai.
Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu) will appoint a consultant to study ways to improve the drainage system in Taman Aman, Kulai, to curb frequent flash floods there.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said initial investigations by the council revealed that the flash floods were due to poor maintenance of the retention pond between Taman Aman and Taman Scientex.
“The flood retention pond belongs to the developer and it has not been maintained, thereby disrupting water flow.
“Taman Aman is located in a low-lying area and that is why the area is prone to flash floods,” he told reporters after launching the Women Inspiring Knowledge (WINS) programme at IOI Mall, Kulai.
He said MPKu had taken immediate action by cleaning the drains and rivers around the area to prevent another flood in Taman Aman.
“The clean-up started in early August.
“We will inform the developer to make the flood retention pond deeper,” he said, adding that the consultant would take around one year to complete the study.
On another matter, Mohd Jafni said three new people’s housing projects (PPR) would be built in the state beginning this month, thereby providing some 1,100 housing units.
PPR Sembrong, PPR Tenggara and PPR Pengerang would take about two years to complete, he elaborated.
“PPR Sembrong and PPR Tenggara are landed housing, with each project offering 400 units, while PPR Pengerang is a strata building with 300 units built under the Malaysia Civil Servants Housing Programme (PPAM).
Mohd Fadil: Clean-up and deepening of retention ponds have been carried out.
“PPR Tenggara is expected to be completed by next year while PPR Sembrong and PPR Pengerang will be completed in 2024,” he said, adding that the housing projects would benefit B40 families and civil servants.
“PPR units are designed to help poor families rent government-owned homes at an affordable price while allowing them to gain sufficient financial capability to later own a home.
“Once they have the financial means, they can move out to make room for others who require these PPR homes,” he said.
Mohd Jafni said the Johor government had also requested that a PPR be built in Larkin, Johor Baru, during a recent meeting with Housing and Local Government Ministry.
“We have proposed two options – to build a five-storey building with 334 units or an 18-storey one with 684 units on a 3.6ha land,” he said.
Mohd Jafni, who is Bukit Permai assemblyman, also said that the Johor Affordable Homes (Rumah Mampu Milik Johor or RMMJ) project in Bandar Putra had been completed and an open balloting process would be conducted at year end.
“The project consists of 306 units and is located near Kampung Pertanian,” he said.
At a MPKu full board meeting, chief whip Mohd Fadil Misran also touched on the flood issue, saying discussions were ongoing between the council and the relevant government agencies to address the matter.
He said the flash floods last month were the result of unusually high rainfall that caused the river to swell and overflow.“From what we understand, about 180mm of rainfall a day was recorded recently. The usual volume is below 100mm.
“Areas such as Taman Aman and Kampung Jaya Sepakat are more prone to floods as these are low- lying areas with water from various directions flowing into Sungai Skudai,” he told reporters after chairing the council meeting.
Mohd Fadil said clean-up and deepening of retention ponds near the flood-prone areas had been conducted following the recent incidents.
“Continuous efforts are being carried out, including looking at smaller waterways in Kulai, but this may take more time as it involves other relevant agencies like the Drainage and Irrigation Department and Public Works Department.
“The council also has a flood response team on standby, especially during heavy rains,” he added.
