PETALING JAYA: More needs to be done to safeguard cities and communities against flood risks for the long term, says an expert.
Taylor’s University School of Architecture, Building and Design head Professor Dr Camelia May Li Kusumo said infrastructure alone would not be enough to address the issue.
“Retention ponds and good river maintenance can improve water flow and provide temporary stormwater storage, helping to mitigate the impact of heavy rainfall.
“The government and local authorities also need to prioritise flood hotspots based on data, upgrade urban drainage systems, strengthen long-term maintenance and integrate nature-based solutions such as wetlands and green spaces.
“Investments made today should not only solve current challenges, but should also safeguard our cities and communities for decades to come.”
Under Budget 2027, RM100mil will be allocated to build flood retention ponds and carry out river maintenance to reduce flood risks.
The Federal Government and the Selangor government agreed on five main flood mitigation measures, including assessing the capacities of the Batu and Klang Gates dams for the next 30 years.
Taman Sri Muda Zone 8 KRT president Mogan Thangavelu called for a permanent concrete structure to be built on the Taman Sri Muda bridge to better prevent rain water from overflowing into the neighbourhood.
“Taman Sri Muda was hit by a very severe flood in 2021 and we don’t want that to repeat. Back then, we saw the bun collapsing as it could not withstand the water pressure.
“I hope the government can allocate some budget and consider our suggestion for a permanent structure,” he said.
