KLANG: The state government and the Klang Royal City Council were rapped on their knuckles by Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who was incensed with the lack of cleanliness and flood woes.Tuanku said the cleanliness level in the Klang Royal City, which is rich in history and developing rapidly, is a sorry sight with many areas being “very dirty and unmanaged”.
This included the river that is strewn with garbage, he added.
“I have received many complaints from the people, especially local and foreign tourists, including visitors from cruise ships who came via Port Klang, who said that the Klang Royal City was filthy with disgusting rubbish.
“There is no point in us being proud of rapid development achievements if basic things related to cleanliness cannot be implemented and overcome,’’ chided Sultan Sharafuddin.
The Ruler said that due to the trash-filled river and clogged drains, flooding constantly occurred in the city.
“I have many times spoken with and advised the local authorities and state government to initiate effective measures and careful planning to overcome the flooding problem that constantly occurs in the Klang Royal City and several other districts in Selangor.
“However, flooding still recurs every year with the problem aggravated sometimes. Of course, we are not going to use climate change or extraordinarily high rainfall due to an act of God as an excuse,’’ he said in his royal address at the inauguration of the new Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang yesterday.
Sultan Sharafuddin ordered both the Klang Royal City Council and the Selangor government to take immediate steps to alleviate the flooding problem in the city and the state.
“The allocation set aside to overcome the flooding problem has to be fully utilised for the sake of my people’s comfort.
“I want a plan in its entirety to be formulated immediately and a task force to be set up to resolve the problem in Selangor.
“At the same time, I want immediate action initiated to increase the cleanliness level in the Klang Royal City,’’ he said.
Tuanku added that he wanted to see immediate results and did not want to hear any more excuses if there was still failure to sort out the flooding issues.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he is tired of reminding the state government and local councils yearly when his reminders fell on deaf ears.
“Why can’t we solve the problem?
“Doesn’t the state government think about the difficulties faced by the people who have to suffer during the flooding and face damage to property as well as threats to their lives and safety?
“I believe nothing is impossible and there isn’t a problem in the world that cannot be solved if we are thorough and sincere in carrying out our duties and responsibilities,’’ lambasted Sultan Sharafuddin, adding that he is saddened by the people’s plight during the floods.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he is made to understand that millions of ringgit had been allocated specially to overcome flooding on a long and short-term basis but it appeared as if there were no results at all.
The Ruler stressed that if appointed contractors failed to fulfil the work they were hired for, the state government must hire a replacement contractor who had the ability to carry out the task.
“Don’t we want to learn from past mistakes, especially the flooding in December 2021 that almost crippled some districts in Selangor?’’
