What our leaders said about Sunday's 26.2.2006 flood at Shah Alam...

Retired civil servant Zakaria Merican said he spent his life savings on his home in TTDI Jaya only to endure floods time and again.

"To live in peace is a fundamental right of residents but we have been robbed of this," he said.

M. Stellamary, 30, said she moved to TTDI Jaya barely six months ago only to see her home hit by flood waters that left it a mess. The housewife was heart-broken as she had spent time and money on her home. "I am tired of excuses from the council. No more excuses please, we have suffered enough," she said.

Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo

“The floods really caught us off guard,”

"... I wanted a report on why the early warning system for floods was not working well"

Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo,

Yes, you caught the 40 acres water retention pond at Section 3 Kota Damansara "off-guard" too...

How?

By approving the reclaimation of 10.2 acres or 25% of the said water retention pond...

Please consider NOT to reclaim 10.2 acres / 25% of the water retention pond at Section 3 Kota Damansara and do revoke the approval for the proposed development .

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

"...the Government would discuss flood prevention measures with Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo."

“Yes, the weather is very difficult to predict, and theres been more rain than normal. But steps are needed to make sure our drainage is able to cope,”

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,

Thank you very much for your concern and exploring preventive measures. Hopefully, the plight of Section 3 Kota Damansara water retention pond will also receive due attention from you and our respected leaders in the federal government.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Works Minister Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu

“An open area must be found to collect water during a downpour to prevent it from flowing into the river when the water level is high,” said Samy Vellu.

Datuk Seri Samy Vellu,

An open area to collect water during a downpour to prevent it from flowing into the river when the water level is high is already in existence. Well, one of them...

But, your friends from the Selangor government has decided to reduce a 40 acres water retention pond in Kota Damansara by 25% very soon.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Batu Tiga state assemblyman Datuk Salamon Selamat

"...they should have raised the land by about a metre so that damage from floods could be minimal."

Salamon said he had submitted a request for an additional retention pond to control flooding in the area.

“Currently the village only has one pond and it is not enough,” he said. “A second one will be a big help.”

FULL story below....

Dear Datuk Salamon Selamat,

The Selangor state government should have also build a stronger and better water retention pond at Section 3 Kota Damansara too...

Should this critical water retention pond be reduced by 25% or 10.2 acres in exchange for more than 1,000 unit or 6 blocks of apartment and commercial shoplots?

We hope the Selangor state government will also listen to the residents... DON'T reduce the water retention pond at Section 3 Kota Damansara, NOT 25% - 10.2 acres OR 1 inch. NEVER!

.... HERE'S the full story....

If only villagers had listened
The Star 1.3.2006

LANDOWNERS in Kampung Melayu Kebun Bunga were advised to elevate their land before building their houses, but many of them didn't.

Batu Tiga state assemblyman Datuk Salamon Selamat said they should have raised the land by about a metre so that damage from floods could be minimal.

Salamon said the village, through the Sungai Damansara flows, was naturally prone to floods and it had been hit several times. In the last couple of months alone Kampung Melayu Kebun Bunga has been flooded twice.“The village is lower than the water level,” he said. “Geographically, it is a flood-prone area, a fact residents are well aware of,” he said, adding that the traditional Malay village was one of the earliest settlements in Shah Alam.

Due to the land condition, the early settlers were issued with a temporary occupancy licence (TOL), renewed on a yearly basis.

A few years ago, they were given land titles. “We advised them to raise the lands then,” said Salamon. “A metre higher would have been a safer level and the devastation from Sunday’s flood would not have been this bad,” he added.

Kampung Melayu Kebun Bunga was one of the worst-hit areas during the flood that ravaged most of Shah Alam three days ago. The other badly-hit areas were TTDI Jaya, Kampung Melayu Subang, Kampung Baru Hicom and Batu Tiga area.

Salamon, who was also the Shah Alam mayor between 2002 and 2004, was involved in the early planning and development of the city while working with PKNS from 1974 to 1991.
Salamon agreed that Sunday’s flood was the worst in about 10 years.

“Usually, the water level reaches 0.5m, but this one was 2m to 3m high,” he said.
The incident, which occurred early in the morning, sent thousands of residents in Shah Alam fleeing their homes.

Many were awakened by the sudden gush of water into their homes. By the time they realised what was happening, it was too late.

Salamon attributed several factors to the floods. One was the Sungai Damansara overflowing into the Kuala Lumpur side after about 400mm of rain fell in the area in nine hours alone. By the time the water reached Shah Alam, the tide in the sea off Klang also rose and this caused the water to back up and overflow into low-lying areas.

Salamon said he had submitted a request for an additional retention pond to control flooding in the area. “Currently the village only has one pond and it is not enough,” he said. “A second one will be a big help.”

He said the Selangor government had approved several flood mitigation projects last week.
These include a RM3mil pump system for TTDI Jaya and works to repair and raise the height of river bunds along Jalan Kebun Bunga, costing about RM7mil.

The government also had plans to install a floodgate and widen water channels along the NKVE.
However, the flood occurred even before the works could begin.