Selangor Flood Mitigation to Take Years as Structural and Development Challenges Persist

KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts to resolve Selangor’s persistent flooding issues are expected to take several years, with authorities indicating a timeline of up to four years due to the ongoing nature of mitigation projects.

State Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Izham Hashim said major works, including river widening and deepening, are currently underway but will not yield immediate results.

He explained that flood mitigation requires a comprehensive and phased approach involving detailed engineering design, regulatory compliance, and long-term implementation strategies.

“This is not a problem that can be resolved within a short timeframe. It involves complex processes that require careful planning and execution,” he said at a press conference held at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.

Izham acknowledged that while Selangor has adopted advanced water management technologies from countries such as the Netherlands, China, and Germany, their application is constrained by local environmental and developmental factors.

These include significantly higher rainfall levels, differing soil conditions, and dense urban development, all of which complicate flood control efforts.

For context, he noted that the Netherlands experiences annual rainfall of between 700 and 900mm, compared to nearly 3,000mm in Selangor, underscoring the need for locally adapted solutions.

“Technology alone is not enough. What matters is how effectively it is adapted to local conditions,” he said.

The issue has also drawn attention from the Selangor ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who recently expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of tangible progress in addressing recurring floods despite repeated advisories.

-wilayah.com.my

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