Ministry urged to deal with flood problem

2009/10/28
Source: NST
By Chuah Bee Kim

FLASH floods have been a recurring problem for the residents of Kampung Poh Chee Leng in Skudai, Johor Baru,for 15 years.

Skudai state assemblyman Dr Boo Cheng Hau said a downpour which had lasted for about an hour had caused the most recent flash flood in the area.

Dr Boo said technical studies conducted by the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council (JBCMC) revealed that an insufficient number of silt traps in the abandoned Skudai army camp was the main reason for the flash floods.

"However, when the member of parliament for Bakri, Er Teck Hwa brought up the matter in a parliamentary sitting, the Defence Ministry denied that there was a problem.

"I am upset with the ministry's lackadaisical attitude towards the plight of the residents of Kampung Poh Chee Leng.

"The ministry's reply in Parliament was apparently based on a report by KCSB Konsortium Sdn Bhd, the ministry's private developer for the Skudai army camp which has been abandoned since 2004.

"As KCSB is a private developer, there is a conflict of interest in determining the cause of the flash flood in Kampung Poh Chee Leng," he said, adding that Er had sought a joint meeting with JBCMC and the state government to find a solution for the flash flood problem.

He also urged the ministry to find ways to alleviate the residents' problem.