Developer fined for Aug 16 Shah Alam floods

Dr Nor Fuad: MBSA’s water pumps were working but there was a flap gate problem falling under a government agency’s jurisdiction.

THE cause of flash floods at Section 13, in Shah Alam, Selangor on Aug 16 has been linked to the developer’s failure to instal a silt trap at its construction site.

Shah Alam mayor Dr Nor Fuad Abdul Hamid told StarMetro that Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) suspected that one pocket development near the flooded area had impacted the quality of the floodwaters.

“The developer had cleared the site without installing silt traps. Usually when floods happen, the water is clear but this time it was muddy.

“MBSA visited the site the following day and issued a compound of RM250,000 to the developer,” he said after chairing the city council’s full board meeting at Wisma MBSA on Monday.

Dr Nor Fuad said MBSA was also investigating another site near Bukit Jelutong for a related flooding incident.

Social media was abuzz with photos taken by the public when floods hit Section 13.

The incident occurred between 3.40pm and 4.37pm along Jalan Persiaran Sukan.

Other areas affected included the stadium roundabout heading towards the Accapela building, Jalan Surau Munawwarah and the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Golf and Country Club (KGSAS) traffic lights.

Dr Nor Fuad disagreed with a statement in a news portal that the floods were caused by MBSA’s malfunctioning water pumps.

“The three water pumps were working. We suspect there were flap gate maintenance issues falling under a government agency’s jurisdiction.

“The flap gate was choked by rubbish and it was not fully closed, so water from the river spilled over,” he said.

He said out of the three pumps, two were upgraded in May.

They are located near Wisma Rozali opposite the Acapella building in Section 13.

“The water pumps efficiently discharged all water trapped within the stadium’s vicinity but the water could not flow out to the river because it was impacted upstream,” he added.

Dr Nor Fuad said MBSA had instructed the district level disaster committee headed by the Petaling District Office to initiate a flood mitigation meeting in September for the upcoming north-east monsoon.

“MBSA’s Skuad Pantas will also be on alert for any uncertainties,” he said. — By AIDA AHMAD