SUNGAI PETANI: Outdated drainage and irrigation infrastructures in Sungai Petani are incapable of coping with the accelerated development in the Kuala Muda district, resulting in flash floods.
Sungai Petani member of Parliament Taufiq Johari acknowledged the urgency in addressing the issue, since certain areas were getting prone to flash floods disaster due to poor drainage and irrigation system.
"Based on my visit to several areas affected by flash floods on Sunday evening, we may conclude that rapid development, including new housing developments, has overloaded the existing drainage and irrigation systems.
"I will set up a meeting with the Sungai Petani Municipal Council president, the Department of Drainage and Irrigation, as well as other relevant agencies to discuss this issue.
"We will try to expedite whatever possible solutions to mitigate the flash floods issue in Sungai Petani. I will update the constituents once we reach a decision on the matter," he said when contacted.
Taufiq was responding to the plea by villagers in flood-prone Kampung Bukit Belah here for the outdated drainage and irrigation infrastructures to be upgraded.
The villagers were reported as saying that the existing drains and rivers could no longer accommodate rising stormwaters during heavy rainfall, as well as during high tide phenomenon.
On Sunday evening, 110 people in Kuala Muda district were forced to evacuate after their homes were hit by flash floods following several hours of heavy rainfall.
The victims, who sought shelter at Temporary Flood Relief Centres in Dewan Umno, Dewan SJK (C) Min Terk and Masjid Al-Huda Kampung Jerung, were allowed to return home yesterday after the situation improved.