PETALING JAYA, Nov 17 — Puchong residents expressed frustration over the frequent flash floods in the area as they fear another deluge is bound to occur during the prevailing rainy season.
Tuesday’s flash floods saw water rising at a stretch along the Damansara-Puchong Highway and at the open-air car park at IOI Mall, trapping motorists for hours and leaving vehicles under water.
Fauziah Omar, 50, who has stayed in Puchong for the past 10 years, said flash floods occur frequently especially after long hours of heavy rain.
“Residents here and even in Taman Kinrara face flash floods especially during heavy rain. We are fed up with so much flooding causing much damage to our properties,” said the school clerk.
“We want assurances from the local authorities that they will solve this problem. We fear our area will be flooded again as it has been raining quite a lot these days.”
Another local Vivien Yap, 49, said they have always experienced floods in the area but Tuesday’s deluge was the worst.
“In my 14 years as a Puchong resident, Tuesday’s flash floods were bad. It’s so bad even parts of high ground opposite IOI Mall went under water, affecting business in the area,” said the street vendor.
Clerk Roshida Jantan, 51, said rapid development in the area, often unchecked, was the main contributor to the floods in recent times.
“I’ve stayed in Puchong since 1986 and flash floods have become a major problem only in the past four years. Unchecked developments in the area contributed to it” she said.
“We made countless complaints to the local authorities but we have yet to see any action taken.”
“It’s raining now and things could get ugly.”
Taxi driver Azman Laksamana, 51, who stays in Puchong, said he would think twice before coming into the area to serve passengers especially during wet season now.
“Yesterday was the second time I was caught in traffic while ferrying customers to IOI mall due to flash floods. Each time it rains heavily, I get worried,” he said.
“We must end this problem.”
Gobi Nagarajan, 38, blamed poor irrigation in the area as the cause for the flash floods.
“We have been screaming for better irrigation in the area for years now. Our cars and properties have been damaged many times and we have had enough,” said the taxi driver who stays in Puchong.
“There has not been any real damage to houses... not yet at least. But it costs a bomb to fix damage to the cars.”
A Subang Jaya Munincipal Council spokesperson said they were still identifying the cause of the floods and would hold a press conference today to share their findings.
“We are working with the related agencies to find the root cause of the issue,” the spokesperson said.
Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who was also fed up with the situation, said he was waiting for the initial report from the local council to decide the next course of action.
