The flash flood in Puchong yesterday was due to a nearby LRT extension project and not because of the state’s failure to maintain its drains, said Selangor senior exco member Teresa Kok.

puchong ldp flood 180213 04 She said that construction materials at the project site had restricted the water flow out of the area, thereby causing the flood which had stranded vehicles around the IOI Mall yesterday evening.

“Garbage clogs might have contributed a little bit to it, but it is not the main cause of the flood... it has to do with the LRT extension project next to it (IOI Mall).

“Somehow, all the construction materials piled up there had clogged the drain and made the water flow slower,” said Kok when contacted today.

She explained that the area across the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) from IOI Mall is the high ground and water there would have flowed swiftly through the IOI Mall site - which is on lower ground - and into a river.

                   

puchong ldp flood 180213 01 However, the construction materials had slowed the river flow, causing water to accumulate around the IOI Mall.

“We have already spoken to Malaysian Resources Corperation Bhd, which is the contractor for the LRT extension project, and have asked them to quickly straighten the drains and let the water flow quickly into the Klang river,” said Kok, who is also the local assemblyperson.

Pro-BN group Gabungan Anti-Penyelewengan Selangor (Gaps) had blamed the flood on the Selangor government yesterday, saying that it was caused by the state’s failure to maintain a proper drainage system.