A NEW body set up by the state government will look into reducing and solving flood woes in Selangor.
Created in March, the Flood Mitigation Task Force is headed by state Infrastructure and Public Facilities committee chairman Zaidy Abdul Talib (PAS-Taman Templer).
The task force will include other technical agencies such as the Selangor Water Management Board (Luas), Drainage and Irrigation Department, Selangor Department of Environment, State Economic Planning Unit and Public Works Department.
State Local Government committee chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah (DAP-Seri Kembangan) and Environment committee chairman Elizabeth Wong (PKR-Bukit Lanjan) are also in the task force as well as the respective heads for Selangor’s 12 local councils.
He said the purpose of the task force, was to plan for flood mitigation in the state in a holistic manner, hence the multiple agencies involved.
According to Zaidy, Selangor had suffered 1,028 flood incidents in 388 areas from 2004 till 2014.
“This year, up to March 31, we already had 30 incidents in 25 areas,” said Zaidy.
He said the task force would move to reduce floods through efforts such as preparing an information database on previous flood incidents as well as planning and monitoring the various flood mitigation projects carried out by individual agencies and local governments.
Other aspects of flood mitigation will also include enforcement and readiness planning such as emergency checklists in preparation for the rainy season.
Currently, more than RM171mil has been allocated for various flood mitigation plans in Selangor under the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Of the 388 areas affected by floods, Zaidy said 182 have begun implementing or already implemented flood mitigation projects.
“We are also in the midst of compiling a list of flood projects for inclusion under the 11th Plan,” Zaidy said.
The state assembly was also told that the Shah Alam City Council’s (MBSA) future public transportation plan would be divided into long- and short-term phases.
The short-term phase includes preparing a park-and-ride facility at the Seksyen 19 commuter station as well as upgrading the Sekyen 17 bus terminal.
Replying to Dr Yaakob Sapari (PKR-Kota Anggerik), Transportation committee chairman Datuk Teng Chang Khim said in the long-term, the city council would be conducting research to prepare a more comprehensive public transport master plan.
Teng also said that Shah Alam was working with the federal government on several public transport projects.
Teng listed seven projects, including the Subang-Skypark Terminal Commuter Link, Light Rail Transit 3 from Bandar Utama to Klang and the “Bus Info panel” at every bus shelter in the city.
“MBSA has also made efforts to expand the public transport service to connect the commercial centres in the city, including the creation of the ‘city bus’ and reducing its interval from 30 minutes to 15 minutes at peak hours,” said Teng.
Currently, there are four public bus companies servicing a total of 25 routes to connect Shah Alam’s commercial centres and surrounding areas.
The city council has also applied for five additional routes with SPAD (Land Public Transport Commission) – The Star
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