Data-driven Strategy Needed To Address Selangor’s Flood Woes – AWER
By Siti Baaqiah Mamat
SHAH ALAM, April 21 (Bernama) -- A more comprehensive and data-driven approach must be adopted to ensure flood mitigation planning in Selangor is more accurate and resilient, said Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (AWER) president S. Piarapakaran.
He said data analysis must serve as the primary basis for evaluating the effectiveness of drainage systems and flood mitigation projects, including the identification of both predictable and unpredictable rainfall patterns.
He added that without accurate, comprehensive data, drainage system designs cannot be adapted to current environmental changes, leading to recurring flood risks despite the implementation of various projects.
“The main weakness identified is a mitigation approach that does not consider the entire water flow system from upstream to downstream, resulting in solutions in one area potentially increasing risks in another.
“Projects focusing only on a single location may appear successful locally, but they effectively shift the problem to downstream areas,” he told Bernama.
Piarapakaran, who is also the chief executive officer of the Centre for Water and Energy Sustainability (CWES), said the situation is becoming more critical as rapid development increases the number of paved and impermeable surfaces, leading to higher surface run-off that exceeds the capacity of existing drainage systems.
He said that several areas in Selangor identified as flood hotspots, including Shah Alam, Klang, and Petaling Jaya, are older settlements now surrounded by new developments and situated in naturally high-risk zones such as floodplains, wetlands, and river estuaries.
He added that old drainage systems that have not been upgraded in tandem with land-use changes also contribute to the inability to cope with increased water flow, particularly when upstream projects channel water directly into main rivers.
In this regard, he proposed immediate measures, including ensuring drainage systems are not clogged, maintaining retention ponds regularly, and implementing real-time flood warning systems to reduce the impact on residents.
In the long term, Piarapakaran suggested a redevelopment plan based on river basin data, including stricter controls on development in sensitive areas and better coordination between the state and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur in water flow management.
He suggested adopting the approach used in the Netherlands, which emphasises slowing water flow and giving the river room, though he noted this must be adapted to local geography and climate.
Meanwhile, he said the pollution in the Klang River directly affects flash flood risks and reduces the potential for clean water sources in surrounding areas.
He said river restoration efforts through a 'pollution reversal' approach could be implemented, but this would require significant changes to infrastructure, policy, and enforcement.
Yesterday, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, once again advised the state government to give full priority to addressing flood problems through meticulous planning and more effective immediate action.
Sultan Sharafuddin also decreed that he had previously urged the state government several times to seek the views and expertise of international experts, particularly from the Netherlands, to draft the best approach in overcoming the protracted flood issue.
Today, State Infrastructure and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Izham Hashim said the flood issue in the state is expected to be resolved within the next four years through the Selangor Flood Mitigation Project, which is currently being implemented.
Izham said that for now, several river deepening works under the project are underway and that comprehensive solutions to flooding require time to be completed.
-- BERNAMA
