JOHOR BARU: Johor will allocate an additional RM30mil to implement several immediate and medium-term measures to address flash floods in the city, says Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.
The state housing and local government committee chairman said the measures include appointing a specialist consultant to study the city’s drainage system, constructing underground On-Site Detention (OSD) facilities, increasing pumping capacity and upgrading monsoon drains and culverts.
“Currently, we already have RM48mil allocated for flood mitigation projects next year, which will be carried out in phases.
“However, looking at the existing issues, we need an additional RM30mil allocation next year,” he told a press conference at the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) on Thursday (Oct 1).
Mohd Jafni said this after a special Johor Baru Flood Task Force meeting following the flash floods on Wednesday (Sept 30) that inundated several parts of the city.
Also present was MBJB mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad and Perling assemblyman P. Pannir Selvam, who is also state unity, heritage and culture committee chairman.
Mohd Jafni rainfall recorded during the incident was unusually high, at between 60mm and more than 100mm in certain areas, compared with the normal rate of about 10mm an hour.
“Weather conditions have become difficult to predict.
"MBJB has spent more than RM100mil over the past four years, with another RM48mil allocated for next year to upgrade pumps and other flood mitigation infrastructure.
“However, the volume of water was simply too high, making it difficult to discharge the water into the Johor Straits,” he said.
He said monsoon drains would also be upgraded and enlarged, while culverts at critical locations would be improved, including the construction of two 1.2m-diameter culverts by the Public Works Department (JKR).
On another matter, Mohd Jafni said the state was also looking at introducing a notification system to alert city residents of heavy rain and possible flash floods.
He said the state would review the existing Johor Baru Integrated Operations Command Centre system to see how flood warnings could be sent directly to the public.
“We will review our command centre system and look at how we can obtain as many phone numbers as possible to facilitate this.
“It is time for us to look at how Johoreans, especially those in the city, can receive notifications when there are floods or anything of a similar nature,” he said.
He also warned developers and contractors to comply with flood mitigation requirements, saying MBJB would call developers in the city for a briefing on the issue.
“I have told the mayor that we need to call in all housing and other developers in Johor Baru to brief them again on flood-related issues.
“Before any development is carried out, there are planning permission requirements that must be complied with, including providing temporary retention ponds and monsoon drains.
“The issue is whether these requirements are actually being implemented or only done later,” he said, adding that a development project in Iskandar Puteri was recently ordered to stop after flooding occurred in an area that had previously not experienced such problems.
