By Suhaila Shahrul Annuar
SHAH ALAM, Dec 10 — The construction of a water highway that channels excess water directly to the sea is one of Selangor’s proposals to address flooding issues in the Klang Valley.
State executive councillor for infrastructure and agriculture Izham Hashim said the method, which has been used for over a decade in Japan, should be emulated to tackle flooding.
“We have conducted studies and discussions with experts, and I have personally observed this method in practice in Saitama, Japan, where it has been used for over 10 to 15 years to manage disasters such as floods.
“The need for a water highway is to channel large volumes of excess water to the sea. Existing rivers manage the current water flow, so there is no overflow that causes flooding,” he said during Selangor TV’s SKOP programme.
Izham added that if successfully implemented, the project will be developed in phases, focusing on critical areas over five to ten years. It will include several facilities, like tunnels, pump houses, and dropshafts (vertical tunnel structures).
“This proposal will be incorporated into the Selangor Water Management Master Plan, and we will seek Federal government assistance to help Kuala Lumpur and Selangor realise this proposal,” he said.
Additionally, flood mitigation projects in Selangor, with an allocation of approximately RM3.5 billion at various stages of implementation, will also minimise the risk of natural disasters.
“RM3.162 billion is from the Federal government for 12 projects, while RM450 million (from the state government) is allocated for 45 projects. Moreover, for the first time, we have approved RM5 million to maintain unclaimed drains, with the first phase already underway and the second phase expected next week,” Izham said.
Similarly, Selangor is currently employing the construction method using a Multi-Purpose Panel System (MPPS), which is more effective in preventing the recurrence of bund collapses, particularly in areas like Kuala Langat and Tanjong Karang.
Previously, the councillor said that the MPPS is a construction technology utilising pre-cast concrete panels installed into a framework and concrete wall system. This technology is used for river embankments, access roads, retaining walls, railway foundation reinforcements, and other purposes.
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