Bong (left) and Tang (in dark shirt) looking at the concrete structure built at the monsoon drain to prevent flash floods in Jalan Biru, Taman Pelangi, Johor Baru.
About RM35,000 has been spent to build a concrete structure and handrails around a monsoon drain in Taman Pelangi, Johor Baru, to prevent flash floods and accidents involving school students.
Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) Stulang zone councillor Bong Seng Heng said a male student fell into the drain and sustained minor injuries in 2022 because murky waters had totally covered the road and drains during a flash flood.
“The low-lying ground near Jalan Biru would previously get flooded during heavy rain.
“This posed a danger and inconvenience to residents as well as students from nearby Foon Yew High School, who wait for the school bus at an empty plot of land there.
Bong says RM20,000 was spent on building a concrete structure measuring 9.1m long and 1.8m high at the monsoon drain.
“Whenever it rained heavily, rainwater would gush down from the sloped road and main road under the Eastern Dispersal Link into the area, causing flash floods,” he said during a press conference at the site.
He added that in May 2022, floodwaters rose to knee level and students got drenched while rushing to get onto buses.
It was then that a male student fell into the drain and sustained injury to his thighs.
“After receiving the complaints, I submitted an application to MBJB to build a structure to prevent water from overflowing onto the road,” said Bong.
“Using my MBJB councillor’s allocation, RM20,000 was spent on building a concrete structure measuring 9.1m long and 1.8m high at the Jalan Biru monsoon drain.
“Another RM15,000 was used to instal handrails and drain covers at the foot of the sloped road to prevent such accidents from happening again,” he added.
Bong said the concrete structure project was completed in October 2022 while the second project was completed in early December last year.
Meanwhile, the school’s assistant head of general affairs department Tang Wai Kit thanked MBJB and the councillor for their assistance, which ensured the safety of students and residents in the area.
“Since the structure was built, there have been no more flash floods in the area,” he added.
