Najib Abdul Razak has approved a RM7.5 million allocation for short-term flood mitigation measures in Hulu Langat where more than 3,000 families were badly affected by floods early this month.       

The prime minister said a bridge on a major route that would cost RM3.5 million, two culverts costing RM1 million and RM3 million for relocation of utilities were covered under the allocation.     

NONE "I was briefed by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and the Public Works Department (JKR) and requested for short-term flood mitigation measures.   

"We will implement these short-term measures this year. If possible, work on the projects will begin before the general election," he said at an event to hand over aid to the flood victims, Hulu Langat.

"The Hulu Langat floods forced the 3,000 families out of their homes and caused damage to property that ran into millions of ringgit.     

Najib was briefed by Selangor DID director Ab Qahar Osman on the proposed RM15 million six-hectare Sungai Serai retention pond in Hulu Langat which is expected to be built in two years.     

NONE Najib said the retention pond would be built as one of the long-term measures, and added that it would involve the acquisition of land.   

"This will have to wait. We have to take over the state government first," he said in reference to the PRK-led state government in Selangor.     

The prime minister said the implementation of the short-term and long-term measures would prevent floods in the area.     

After attending the briefing, Najib visited the houses of several of the flood victims.     

The floods early this month affected the residents of Dusun Tua, Taman Sri Nanding, Kg Sg Serai and Lembah Jaya Utara, among others.       

Najib feels the flock returning

Meanwhile Najib said he is confident that the support of the people in Selangor for the Barisan Nasional (BN) is growing due to the failure of the state government under the opposition front to fulfill its pledges made during the 2008 general election.     

"We want to ask the opposition, how many of the the promises made during the 2008 general election have been fulfilled?     

"The 20 per cent reduction in assessment, has it been implemented? What about the business premises tax reduction of 10 percent? Free health services for senior citizens in Selangor, has it been implemented? All of them have yet to be implemented.     

"That is why the rakyat have more faith in the BN. We have been cheated once, that is enough. We don't want to be cheated again," he said to loud applause from the more than 5,000 people who attended the ceremony.     

- Bernama