KLUANG: Barisan Nasional Mahkota state seat candidate Syed Hussein Syed Abdullah has promised to make flood mitigation his top priority if elected.
He said despite efforts made by the state and federal government, which have reduced the severity of flooding in some areas, the problem remained persistent and must be addressed with continued focus.
"Flooding is a critical issue in most areas, and Kluang is no exception. Many parts of Kluang have faced severe flooding in the past.
"With federal and state government funds, it has mitigated some of these problems, but it's clear that heavy prolonged rains still lead to flooding.
"I will raise these issues to ensure that we find solutions," Syed Hussein said, after he met traders in Taman Makmur, here, today.
Earlier, Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said preparations in case of flooding during the upcoming Sep 28 Mahkota by-election had been made in advance.
The police deployed 38 officers who are on standby at the district police headquarters to handle any flood-related incidents between Sep 14 and Sep 28.
Equipment, including boats and trucks, have been stationed at the district police headquarters as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, Syed Hussein also said if he was elected, he would look into riverbank fortification efforts which were initiated by the late assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain, particularly in flood-prone areas such as Taman Ilham.
He pledged to work closely with the relevant agencies, namely the Public Works Department and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, to gather expert inputs to resolve the matter.
"I am a resident here, and I understand the challenges faced when it rains heavily, so I am committed in addressing the long-standing flooding issues," he said.
The Mahkota by-election in Kluang, is a straight contest between Syed Hussein and Perikatan Nasional's Mohammad Haizan Jaafar, 61, also known as Coach Haizan.