PERSISTENT flooding fuelled by upstream factory waste and overlapping local authority jurisdictions has left Selayang Wan San Temple in Kuala Lumpur desperate for a permanent solution.
The temple committee is urging the authorities to step in after years of coping with clogged drains, foul odours and costly cleanup bills.
Its general affairs head Ho Gik Moi said rubbish from factories and flats on higher ground was being carried by rainwater into drains around the temple, clogging the system in the process.
“The temple has been here for eight years, and flooding occurs almost every time it rains heavily.
“The latest incident happened in June, when water levels rose, making it difficult for vehicles to pass through Jalan Selayang Baru,” she said, adding that the temple used its own funds to clear the drains.
“The clearing works cost us about RM800 each time.”
Temple committee member Tan Soon Seng said recurring floods affected his daily commute to Pasar Harian Selayang, where he runs a fish stall.
“The rubbish trapped in the drains not only causes a bad odour but also attracts rats,” he said, adding that rats had chewed through the wiring of the temple’s closed-circuit TV cameras.
Speaking on behalf of the temple committee, community activist Yee Poh Ping said overlapping jurisdictions had complicated efforts to resolve the problem.
The temple along with its front carpark and the flats behind it, are under the jurisdiction of Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), but the drains are split between MPS and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
“The drains are clogged with rubbish and sediment, causing water to overflow even on dry days,” said Yee, urging MPS and DBKL to collaborate and come up with a solution.
In a statement to StarMetro, MPS said DBKL cleared the drains in front of the temple on July 1 and 2.
“MPS found the drainage route also passes through the municipality, but it is not listed under our maintenance inventory as it is located within a private lot.
“Nevertheless, MPS carried out jetting works on July 7 to ensure smoother water flow and reduce the risk of blockages as a short-term measure.
“The council has also requested the management body of the apartment next to the temple clear recyclable waste beside the drain, believed to be contributing to the blockage,” it said.
MPS said it would engage the private lot owner to find a long-term solution to the drain blockage and floods.
DBKL also responded, saying that it had visited the site with Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and community representatives on July 2 and had identified several upgrades to the drainage system.
“These include cleaning the drains and constructing more outlets to smoothen water flow,” it said in a statement.
DBKL added that it was collaborating with MPS to ensure the proposed solutions are implemented.
