FLOOD mitigation in Selangor must take into account the entire ecosystem instead of relying solely on deepening rivers, building retention ponds and clearing drains.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said a comprehensive approach to tackling floods must be implemented as climate change has made weather and rainfall patterns increasingly hard to predict.
He said the state government had been implementing various flood mitigation projects, including immediate projects involving rivers and tributaries, while also working with the Federal Government and the Drainage and Irrigation Department.
“We need to look at the ecosystem as a whole to tackle flooding comprehensively and effectively,” he said after the “Bicara Perdana” programme held in conjunction with Malaysia Day 2026 at Dewan Al Jazari, Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam.
Amirudin said the challenges included delays to several federal flood mitigation projects due to issues involving contractors’ implementation, land acquisition and design.
The delayed flood mitigation projects in Puchong and Bukit Jalil, which began in 2021, he said, was expected to be completed by the end of this year.
He added that the completed Sungai Langat Phase 1 project had also reduced flooding in several areas, including Kajang, but Phase 2 that cost about RM1bil remained a challenge.
Amirudin said the state government allocated RM40mil last year to implement immediate flood-related projects in Taman Mutiara, Bukit Lancung, Kampung Lubuk and Padang Jawa in Shah Alam among other areas.
River deepening and dredging works, he said, had helped reduce flooding in some of the areas.
“After 2021, we have not faced major floods that resulted in evacuations like previously experienced,” he added.
