[Optional] (From left) Lee, PRM Kepong branch chief Chua Wi Ken, secretary general Koh Swe Yong and Jinjang Utara resident Tai Teck Sim looking at a rubbish-filled drain in front of Tai's house.
FLOOD-WEARY residents of Jinjang Utara in Kuala Lumpur are urging the authorities to act urgently as recurring floods, linked to poor drainage, are disrupting their daily lives.
They are asking for immediate, long-term solutions to the flooding problem as many had suffered repeated damage to their homes.
Tai Yeat Wen, 26, who lives with her family in Jalan Jinjang Permai 3, said the problem had persisted for over three years.
Despite multiple complaints to Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), she said no clear solution had been implemented.
Tai claimed that the old drains could not cope with the volume of rainwater which would overflow into her home during a downpour.
“Despite setting up barriers each time it rains, water still seeps in, often rising to 6cm.”
Tai recounted how she often had to rush to save her belongings during such incidents.
“The cleanup is exhausting. Draining out the floodwater and cleaning the house takes so much effort and it keeps happening,” she said, adding that some of her furniture had been damaged as well.
So far, Tai’s family has had to fork out around RM1,000 to build concrete barriers at the entrance of their home and the rear of their kitchen to mitigate the problem.
They have also resorted to storing items in plastic containers, and building cement platforms to raise the washing machine and refrigerator above flood level.
She hopes DBKL will take measures to fix the drainage system to prevent further flooding soon.
Meanwhile, Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) complaints and welfare bureau (central) head Lee Hoi Eng, 38, said flood issues had been prevalent in the Jinjang area for over 20 years.
He said drains in some areas had collapsed and had not been upgraded in the past 15 years.
“The situation is taking a toll on the residents’ well-being.
“Heavy rain late in the night means no sleep for residents who are forced to keep a watch on water levels.
“After a sleepless night, they have to turn up for work the next day.
“Imagine how tiring and stressful this would be,” said Lee, who had brought to light Tai’s complaints during a press conference.
When contacted, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said he had applied for a RM200,000 grant from Housing and Local Government Ministry in January to upgrade the drainage system in the area.
“My team and ministry officials will visit the site tomorrow to assess the situation,” he said.
Lim added that the proposed upgrade would cover about 1km of drainage in the area, including the street where Tai’s home is located, to help reduce the risk of flooding for residents.
He hopes the grant will be approved soon so that drainage works could begin without delay.
DBKL has yet to respond to StarMetro’s request for comments at press time.
