Taman Sri Muda Folks To Protest If Govt Doesn T Act Over Recurring Floods

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Suzanna Kassim, a Taman Sri Muda resident of 30 years, said she only received RM2,000 from the government during the previous flood incident.
SHAH ALAM: Residents of Taman Sri Muda here are demanding immediate government action to resolve the long-standing flood issues plaguing the area since 1995, warning that they will stage a protest if no action is taken.
At a press conference, Umaghandan Krishnan, 40, claimed the two newly-built water pumps in the area failed to operate properly during the recent spells of heavy rain, resulting in floods on April 11.
“By the morning, it was already flooded. We went and checked (the flood pump station). The water gate was open, but two of the pumps were not running and had no electricity.
“The person who told us this was one of the pump station workers. The new pumps were built just last year, but now they are not functioning. Only the older pump was working,” he said.
Umaghandan said he saw around 700 houses affected, with floodwaters at the knee and waist level, while more were affected by shallow waters.
He also claimed no government representatives or agencies have approached the residents or made a statement to address the issue, nor provided financial aid, despite most of Taman Sri Muda’s residents being in the B40 group.
“We already know that they (the government) are planning to organise a town hall meeting next month. By then, we will have water up to our necks.
“So we’re giving the government seven days from today.
“If by this Sunday (April 20) we hear no news from the government – be it the state or federal government, the menteri besar, prime minister, ministries or whoever – we will hold a protest in Taman Sri Muda, because we believe there’s no other solution,” he said.
Previously, Kota Kemuning assemblyman S Preakas said heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Taman Sri Muda, Taman Desa Kemuning, Kampung Bukit Lanchong, Bukit Kemuning and Kampung Lanchong Jaya.
Preakas said the floods had recurred despite the state’s heavy investment in flood mitigation measures, and urged Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari to address the matter.
He said floods spreading beyond Taman Sri Muda proved the existing mitigation system, including the pumps and drainage infrastructure, was still inadequate to handle heavy rain.
Suzanna Kassim, a resident of 30 years, said she was struggling financially from the damage to her home caused by the floods, having only received RM2,000 from the government during the previous flood incident.
“An NGO gave me RM1,000. The government still wants to assess my house even though all the walls and ceilings are already ruined,” she said.
Another resident, Normah Hussein, 67, also expressed disappointment that the government had not provided financial support. She said she had incurred more than RM80,000 in damage from the recurring floods.
“During one of the major floods in 2001, my house was flooded for four days. I had to drink murky pipe water with my cats.
“Why should we have to move? We love this place. I have lived in this house for so long, I won’t run away from Taman Sri Muda.
“No matter what, I’ll stay loyal to Taman Sri Muda,” she said, when asked if she had considered moving. - FMT

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