Thursday, December 25, 2014

The Star, Thursday December 25, 2014 

Roads around the Pasar Besar Kajang area inundated following an hour-long afternoon downpour on Nov 12. — filepic
Roads around the Pasar Besar Kajang area inundated following an hour-long afternoon downpour on Nov 12. — filepic

THE Hulu Langat Chinese Industry and Commerce Association is willing to fund the flood control measures in Kajang.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Alex Chen, said the association members had agreed to donate if the local council or state government did not have enough funds to solve the frequent problem of flash floods in Kajang.

The association made the announcement in a press conference following the latest flood incident to hit the town on Dec 21.

“We are willing to give what it takes to solve the problem.

“We will also hire a hydraulic engineer to study the flash flood situation in Kajang and we will send the report to the state government,” said Chen.

Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) public relations head Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman affirmed that a RM5.5mil project would be undertaken by the Drainage and Irrigation Department to widen Sungai Jelok and build a retaining wall at the Kajang market.

The work, he added, will start in March next year.

Chen said the association was willing to help the local authorities with the project and came up with a few suggestions.

“The critical point is at the river area near Plaza Metro Kajang, which runs under the bridge in Jalan Reko and the railway bridge,” he said.

He proposed that the river at the site be straightened and deepened, and its banks widened to facilitate the smooth flow of water.

“The work could help prevent Sungai Jelok overflowing in heavy rain,” he added.

Chen (third from right) and his association members at the press conference to announce their decision to help resolve the flash flood problem in Kajang.
Chen (third from right) and his association members at the press conference to announce their decision to help resolve the flash flood problem in Kajang.
Chen also urged the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) to provide more rubbish bins, especially in the fringes of town, to prevent indiscriminate dumping.

“During floods, the piles of rubbish by the roadside inevitably flows into the drains and rivers, compounding the problem.

“It is an eyesore and it tarnishes the image of Kajang,” he said, adding that MPKj should also increase the frequency of garbage collection.

“There are many things that can be done to solve the flash flood problem and we are here to work with the state government and relevant authorities,” he added.

“The floods have incurred losses for property owners,” he said.

Kajang has been hit by flash floods several times during the rainy season this year, the first one on Sept 29 where several commercial areas near the Pasar Besar Kajang were affected.

Barely two months later, on Nov 21, shop owners and traders in the area once again calculated their losses when a flash flood hit following a downpour.

On Dec 21, flash floods struck once again. This time, the association decided to help the state government resolve the problem.

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