By Yow Hong Chieh
KUALA LUMPUR April 1 — Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar has blamed Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) poor flood mitigation works for the recent spate of flash floods in the state.
He alleged that PR-led Selangor failed to set aside sufficient allocation to improve drainage and reduce the risk of flooding in the nation’s wealthiest state, Utusan Malaysia reported today.
Noh (picture), who is also agriculture and agro-based industry minister, said that while floods were an act of God, that should not be used as an excuse by PR to take the problem lightly.
“Ever since Selangor PKR has ruled, they have never provided funding to reduce the incidence of flooding in this state to alleviate the burden of the people, who became victims of the disaster.
“The state government should at least find a way to reduce the incidence of flooding through local authorities instead of abandoning (their responsibility),” he was quoted as saying in Tanjong Karang.
The port town of Klang was hit with flash floods on Friday, causing thousands to be late for work and schools to be shut.
The floods were a result of heavy rain and high tides, with water levels rising within an hour after it started pouring at 3.30am.
Within 90 minutes, up to 70mm of rain was recorded, far outstripping the daily average of 40mm.
Residents, who were busy protecting their property as the situation worsened, had just recovered from the floods that hit the area on Tuesday.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has called for a “50-year flood plain” encompassing drainage systems and development guidelines.
A 50-year flood plain entails a maximum two per cent chance of flooding per year over the next five decades.
The PKR central leadership committee member also denied that the floods had been caused by a delay in opening the tidal gates.