JOHOR BARU: The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) has allocated RM7.2 million to repair the drainage system as part of the measures to address the flash flood issue in the municipality.
MBJB Mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said the repair works, to be carried out by 12 contractors, will take about three months to complete.
The works are scheduled to begin this month, he said.
"The initiative is undertaken in response to public complaints about damaged road drainage systems and aims to reduce the risk of flash floods in 12 zones under MBJB's jurisdiction," he said during press conference after the council's full board meeting.
He said MBJB has undertaken excavation work for flood retention ponds in several areas, including Sungai Pandan, Sungai Chat, and the main drains in Kempas and Sungai Taman Johor.
"In addition, repairs and the construction of 'weirs' or flood barriers are ongoing at various flood-prone locations, such as Institut Perguruan Temenggong Ibrahim, Taman Tampoi Indah, Sungai Sengkuang, and the Cemerlang Industrial Area," he said.
Mohd Noorazam said early flood warning systems equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV), water level sensors, and sirens that are capable of smartphone monitoring have been installed at the Sungai Chat and Parit Utama Abdul Samad retention reservoirs to prevent flash floods.
In addition, MBJB has hired contractors for annual coordination efforts, including the maintenance and cleaning of major drains, small streams, underground drainage, and closed drainage systems, he said.
He said the focus is also on repairing key drainage structures, maintaining pump houses and floodgates, and ensuring rubbish traps are functional.
He said the council has identified several flood hotspots and is closely monitoring these areas for potential flash floods.
Early interventions will be managed by the Johor Baru Integrated Operations Control Centre (JBIOCC), he said.