Sixty stalls in Section 51A under 1.2m of water on May 6, two weeks after previous incident
FOR traders at Selera Jaya 223 food court in Section 51A, Petaling Jaya, the floods on May 6 brought a cruel sense of deja vu.
For the second time in two weeks, rain turned it into a muddy lake, submerging 60 stalls under 1.2m of water.
The flash flood left behind a trail of ruined appliances, lost stock and shattered morale.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department said teams deployed at 4.15pm found the area inundated and several vehicles in the parking lot submerged.
Dapur Mama Mar owner Mardianty Marhisham said that while the April 20 floods were difficult, the latest deluge has been “devastating.”
She estimated losses of RM1,000 in stock and equipment, with her freezer and blender “out of commission”.
A few stalls away, drinks stall operator Farahanim Ahmad looked visibly shaken.
She and her daughter − who manages a separate stall − estimate their combined losses at RM8,000.
“I cried uncontrollably when the first flood happened in April,” Farahanim said.
“Now, here we are again. It has been a devastating start to the year.”
The destruction was equally severe for Jamaliah Yusoff of Kak Lia Selera Utara stall.
Known for her mixed rice and nasi lemak, Jamaliah’s entire setup was ruined.
“Everything is gone, including 40kg of rice,” she said.
Goh Kim Khaing, who operates a noodle stall with his wife, Lee Seong Eng and their son Kheung Lim, is appealing to the authorities for financial aid.
“Our losses are about RM2,000.
“We have never seen flooding like this here; it is horrible,” he said.
The damage extended beyond the stalls, as motorists in the vicinity were also trapped in the floodwaters.
Manivannan Yelapam watched as his car, which had been driven by his son who is a student at a nearby automotive college, was towed at 8.40pm.
“Today was just a bad day,” he said.
Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), in a statement yesterday, said the flash floods were caused by a “violent shower” with rain exceeding 60mm within a short period.
“This led to Sungai Penchala not being able to cope with the high volume of water, while Sungai Klang also reached its maximum capacity.
“Localities along Sungai Penchala such as sections 51, 17 and 19 were affected.
“Near Sungai Klang, areas affected included Taman Medan, Sri Manja and Buana Perdana,” MBPJ said.
Separately, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud said City Hall was in the process of acquiring land in Segambut to build an on-site flood retention pond.
“The floods mainly hit low-lying areas in Segambut and Cheras, with the existing drainage system being insufficient to carry stormwater during the rain,” he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said a meeting regarding the Kampung Bohol flood retention pond was scheduled for May 12.
They were speaking at a press conference in Taman Segar, Cheras, on the gazettement of four sites as public open spaces.
