Malaysia: Heavy rains bring fear of flood

New Straits Times 23 Oct 14;

JOHOR BARU: THE current rainy season is worrying the residents of Kampung Melayu Kedai Lima in Gelang Patah, here, as the village is flood-prone.

The flood woes have worsened with the proliferation of housing projects in the neighbourhood

They claim rapid development in the surrounding areas had caused their village area to be inundated each time it pours.

They also claim local authorities such as the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council was well aware of the residents’ predicament but had yet to come up with a solution to the problem.

Resident Azmi Badron, 51, said the family had to clean up the home after each flood, when the water would rise to ankle-level.

“It only takes an hour to flood the entire village. Although it is only up to the ankle, the cleaning up and removal of mud and silt are very tiring,” he said.

Azmi said the local council was aware of the problem but had not come up with long term measures to counter it.

Another resident Jesmi Din, 39, said the villagers had to rush each time to keep their belongings dry whenever rainwater started to flow into their homes.

“We have to move our furniture and electrical appliances above ground to prevent them from getting wet,” he said.

Housewife Salmah Atan, 49, said the worst flood happened exactly a year ago, when the water rose up to the knees.

“My car was filled with water and I had to fork out a lot of money to fix the damage,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nusajaya assemblyman Dr Zaini Abu Bakar said he would be speaking with the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council, Johor Drainage and Irrigation Department and Johor Public Works Department to resolve the flood woes.

“The problem is a longstanding one that needs a permanent solution,” he said.

Dr Zaini said he would call for a meeting between all the relevant agencies soon. “I will also ask the local district officer why there had not been any measures taken to mitigate floods in the area,” he said.