KLANG: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, expressed his regret and sadness over the cleanliness level in the Royal City of Klang.
Sultan Sharafuddin said he received complaints from the public, especially tourists, including cruise ship tourists entering through Port Klang, who said the view in Port Klang and the Royal Klang City was so polluted with garbage and extremely disgusting.
"In our pride in seeing the unique historical values in the Royal Klang City, alongside rapid development, I see many areas in the Royal Klang City that are still dirty and disorganised, including rivers severely polluted with garbage.
"There is no use in being proud of rapid development achievements if we fail to implement and address basic cleanliness issues," he said during the opening ceremony of the Klang Muslim Chinese Jamek Mosque today.
Sultan Sharafuddin said that the condition of the rivers filled with garbage and clogged drains that are not properly maintained often causes floods in Klang.
He said that although local authorities and the state government have been repeatedly advised and warned to take effective measures and carefully plan to address the frequent flooding in Klang and several other districts, it still happens repeatedly every year and sometimes worsens.
"Are we going to use the excuse that flooding occurs due to 'climate change' or unusually high rainfall as an 'act of God'?
"I am tired of reminding the government and local authorities about this problem every year, but all of it is ignored like 'pouring water on a duck's back'.
"Why can't we solve this problem? Doesn't the state government want to think about the suffering of the people out there who have to endure the hardships during floods, facing property damage, threatened lives and safety, and difficulties in carrying out daily tasks?
"I believe 'nothing is impossible' and there are no problems in this world that cannot be solved if we are sincere and determined in carrying out our duties and responsibilities," he said.
Sultan Sharafuddin also expressed sadness over the people's suffering and could empathise with their plight due to the frequent floods.
"I understand that millions of ringgit are allocated to address flood problems in the short and long term, but it seems to have no results at all.
"I want to emphasise, if the contractors entrusted with the task of solving flood problems fail to effectively carry out their responsibilities, the government should appoint other, more capable contractors to tackle the flood issues.
"Shouldn't we learn from past mistakes, especially the flood disaster in December 2021 that almost paralyzed parts of Selangor state, and try to effectively improve it for the benefit of the people?
"Therefore, I instruct the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) and the state government to take immediate steps to address the flood problems in Selangor," said Sultan Sharafuddin.