‘You just can’t blame the rain’

Deep trouble: Worsening flood situation seen in Kg Sentosa, Ijok. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

KLANG: Selangor’s flood mess is due to poorly planned development having an adverse effect on the surroundings, says an environmental activist.

Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said that because of this, the state would face the threat of severe flooding whenever there were downpours.

“The Selangor government is just interested in development and does not care if it is done sustainably. Hills are cut down and trees simply felled,” she alleged.

Shariffa Sabrina said some state-appointed contractors, to cut costs, also paid little heed to drainage and flood mitigation facets.

“Then when serious flooding occurs, they blame the rain. Why blame the rain? This is the kind of weather we have always had,” she pointed out.

People’s Legal Team founder Dinesh Muthal said the severe flooding in Selangor was akin to a state of emergency and the government not declaring it as one was irresponsible.

“The worst flooding in Klang and Shah Alam are in areas where most of the residents are from the B40 category.

“There must be many of them already starving and to make matters worse, the power supply is also affected.

“They will be completely cut off when their mobile phones run out of battery,” he added.

Dinesh said the authorities must not ignore the fact that Covid-19 was still a big threat and that there might be infected people trapped in their homes.

Damai Disabled Persons Association president V. Murugeswaran said he had received many calls about disabled and bedridden people trapped at home in Klang and Shah Alam.

“A friend asked me if I could lend a wheelchair to a person whose electric wheelchair had malfunctioned, with the manual wheelchair soaked in water,” he said, adding that the disabled person was trapped at home and unable to move.

He urged the authorities to act quickly, saying the disabled, bedridden as well as the elderly and infirm were the most affected lot.

“This is a serious situation as people are sitting on the roof of their homes. The disabled and bedridden or elderly cannot save themselves by moving upstairs or climbing on rooftops.

“Please buck up,’’ said Murugeswaran, adding that he was also concerned about those living alone.

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee member Nizam Bashir Abdul Kariem Bashir said there should be less confusion among the various stakeholders as to who should be doing what when dealing with a flood emergency.

“Malaysia’s flood management laws, for a start, are contained and housed in disparate Acts such as the Land Conservation Act 1960, Town and Country Planning Act 1976, Environment Quality Act 1974, Local Government Act 1976, Irrigation Areas Act 1953, Drainage Works Act 1954, National Forestry Act 1984 and Uniform Building By-Laws 1984,” he said.