Clogged drain in S'gor? Text this number for help

Residents of Selangor facing clogged drains can take a 10 second video and send it to a hotline by waste management company KDEB, for further action.

The WhatsApp hotline - 019-2742824 - was set up in anticipation of flooding due to heavy rainfall starting in November, as predicted by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

"To ensure the drainage system is in good order in anticipation of flooding this November, as predicted by MetMalaysia, KDEB Waste Management is asking the public in Selangor to report any clogged drains in your area by sending a video of at least 10 seconds long with the location to our WhatsApp number.

"Thank you Selangorians!" said the announcement made on KDEB's Facebook account.

KDEB also urged the public to ensure there is no rubbish in drains and not to pile on rubbish near drains to avoid them from falling in.

The public should not direct their household wastewater directly into neighbourhood drains, it added.

In 2016, it was reported the Klang Municipal Council spent RM6 million to remove hardened cooking oil which clogged municipal drains.

The cooking oil is poured into household kitchen sinks which drain directly into the municipal drains.

Cause of most flash floods

On Sept 6, Environment Department director-general Zaini Ujang said 90 percent of flash floods in the country are caused by clogged drains, filled with sand and rubbish.

“The issue is, why are people throwing rubbish around? Sometimes, the people causing the floods are those throwing the rubbish and God brings a calamity onto him by causing a flood in his area,” he said at a symposium on climate change in Parliament.

However, he conceded that climate change is causing heavier than usual rainfall, overwhelming some existing drainage systems.

Clogged drains were also blamed for flooding at the Penang International Airport over the weekend.

Meanwhile, KDEB's announcement was met with a mixture of applause and scepticism online.

On its Facebook account, some urged for such efforts to continue outside of flood season, while others wondered how long it would take for KDEB to act after the video complaint was sent to the hotline.

MetMalaysia predicts the northeast monsoon period will bring continuous heavy rain starting mid-November, likely leading to major floods.

There are also scattered thunderstorms, bringing about strong wind, heavy rain and flash floods in October, the department said.

The La Nina phenomenon is expected to last until early next year, it said.

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