I refer to the Malaysiakini report Residents fired up about floods .

I understand the anger and disappointment of some residents of Taman Garing, Rawang over flooding woes that have been caused by drainage issues and further compounded by other development projects in the past.

Flash floods and Rawang are, sadly, not complete strangers. On that Saturday night, while I was away attending PKR's annual congress, a two-hour downpour was enough to cause Jalan Welman, Pekan Rawang to be submerged in knee-deep water.

When it started raining heavily around 8pm, my staff had initially contacted some of the residents in Taman Garing though no floods were reported yet. An hour later, when they were informed by members of the public about the rising waters, my staff immediately visited the affected areas (including Pekan Rawang, Sungai Dua and Taman Garing) and observed that in Taman Garing, water one-foot deep had entered three units of bungalow houses.

Although I find the contents of your report on Saturday's events a little blown-up based on the sentiments of the affected houseowners my staff visited that night, I must, nevertheless, thank Pramila Krishnamoorthy for successfully drawing attention to an issue that seemingly has no end.

As my name was mentioned in your report, which described me as having only ‘given assurance that work is being done’, I feel it is only right that I reply to dispel any perceptions that I have been nonchalant.

Fully aware of the flood issue plaguing the constituency I represent, my office and I have been doing all we can to get relevant authorities like the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to expedite work on solving the issue.

The meeting approximately two weeks ago on Nov 12 between me and relevant parties including the DID, MPS, the Land Office, developers and even resident associations was, surprisingly for me, the first ever to have been called for a problem that has existed for years.

Other agencies like Fomca that could not attend also pledged to join in the next meeting. Although there isn't a lack in commitment, I was just curious why there weren't any plans or suggestions as to how to solve the flood problem prior to my taking office as elected assembly person for Rawang. And this after five years of recurrent flooding!

I have no intention to push aside my responsibility now nor am I saying the problem can't be solved because it was caused before my election. I have taken and will continue to practice a proactive engagement with all the relevant parties in solving the issue.

I regret the pettiness of having to respond through this avenue here, and I must add that Pramila Krishnamoorthy was invited but she could not attend the Nov 12 meeting. There, I requested the DID to contract a qualified consultant to again study the issue comprehensively and to suggest a solution that must be environmentally sound.

All parties present that day had no objections and we are all looking forward to get things moving. Like the people of Rawang, I sincerely wish to find a permanent solution to problems that have been, sadly, caused by poor planning in the past.

Lastly, I find paragraph 12 of your report which I quote here: ‘Calls to Gan and other government officials have only elicited assurances that work is being done’, possibly mischievous because I have not received any phone calls from neither your journalist nor Pramila (assuming you are quoting her) on this matter.

Having to respond to news reports like this is, unfortunately, part and parcel of my job, too.

The writer is state assembly person for Rawang.