SHAH ALAM, Nov 13 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants river and drain maintenance work to be carried out more aggressively to reduce flood risks during the Northeast Monsoon.
Selangor Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) director Colonel (PA) Fazlisyah Muslim said the directive was among the key matters discussed at the Selangor Flood Disaster Coordination Special Meeting chaired by Anwar yesterday.
He said the prime minister also stressed the importance of cooperation among all relevant agencies to expedite maintenance work and the implementation of flood mitigation projects.
“The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) expects the Northeast Monsoon to continue until March next year, so all repair and maintenance work must be carried out urgently.
“The prime minister also wants all immediate flood mitigation projects, or quick wins, to be completed swiftly to address public concerns over recurring floods,” he told Media Selangor.
He was speaking after attending the Selangor Flood Disaster Coordination Special Meeting chaired by Anwar at the Parliament building yesterday afternoon.
Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, State Secretary Datuk Dr Ahmad Fadzli Ahmad Tajuddin, state Infrastructure executive councillor Datuk Izham Hashim, and representatives from local authorities (PBT) and relevant agencies.
Meanwhile, Fazlisyah said Anwar also emphasised the need to accelerate flood prevention measures, including expressing concern over delays in project implementation.
He said the implementation of each project and maintenance work must also be monitored more frequently and systematically to ensure all plans remain on track.
Commenting on flood response operations, he said Anwar had not raised any specific concerns, with discussions instead focusing primarily on mitigation efforts to address flooding.
“The prime minister was firm on this matter. Procedures must be followed, but work processes must be carried out systematically. Local authorities and technical agencies must work together. Projects that increase flood risks must be avoided.
“In terms of operations, such as evacuating residents, the prime minister had no comments, as the meeting focused on flood mitigation efforts,” he said.
Earlier, Amirudin said four key measures had been prioritised to address recurring floods in Selangor, including strengthening early warning systems, improving disaster management coordination and finding solutions to flash floods.
In a social media post, Amirudin said the measures also included examining best practices in flood management adopted by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Meanwhile, Anwar also stressed the importance of maintaining rivers, drains, drainage systems, retention ponds and floodgates to ensure all infrastructure functions properly.
He also directed all relevant agencies to identify high-risk areas, expedite the clearing of clogged drains and strengthen water level monitoring.
