BATU PAHAT: The Johor government has deployed a second high-capacity water pump at the Parit Kuda floodgate to speed up the drainage of water from 12 village canals into the sea, in a renewed effort to reduce flooding in Semerah here.

Semerah assemblyman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid said the existing floodgate could no longer cope with the volume of water from the surrounding areas, particularly during high tides and heavy rainfall.

"The Parit Kuda gate is overwhelmed. With both pumps operational, water can now be discharged into the sea more quickly and efficiently. This is an urgent step to prevent prolonged flooding," he told the New Straits Times.

Fared, who also chairs the State Islamic Affairs Committee, said the initiative was part of a broader, layered flood mitigation strategy for Batu Pahat, which has experienced repeated flood events in recent years.

In addition to the new pump, he has proposed the construction of a second floodgate in the vicinity to better manage water discharge during extreme weather conditions.

The state-level initiative complements ongoing federal efforts.

The federal government has committed more than RM187 million for long-term flood mitigation works along Sungai Batu Pahat, including the construction of a dam and a river deepening project, scheduled for completion in January 2029.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced a RM7 million 'quick win' allocation to clear blocked drains and procure additional pumps in Batu Pahat.

At the state level, Semerah received an RM880,000 allocation this year for drainage repair and cleaning works. This includes RM430,000 from the Johor Department of Irrigation and Drainage to maintain 80km of drains, and an additional RM450,000 – a surprise top-up approved by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi – to clean a further 83.45km.

"We have increased our maintained drain coverage in Semerah to 163.45km – that's 63 per cent of our total drainage network," said Fared.

He added that all drain-cleaning works in Semerah would now be brought forward from their original schedule as part of a pre-emptive flood response.

Semerah remains one of the worst-hit areas in Batu Pahat, with some of the most overburdened pumping systems in the district.

Johor relies on a combination of fixed and mobile pumping units to manage water levels, including those operated by Ranhill SAJ, the state's sole water operator.

Ranhill SAJ's mobile pumps are typically deployed during emergencies to maintain water flow and prevent stagnation.

Local residents and village leaders have welcomed the improvements, expressing hope that the state's intervention will mark a turning point for a region long plagued by persistent flooding.

Meanwhile, the overall flood situation in Johor has slightly improved, with 84 people still displaced – down from 106 reported earlier this morning.

Only two districts remain affected – Batu Pahat and Segamat – with three temporary evacuation centres still in operation.

In Batu Pahat, 28 individuals from nine families are currently taking shelter at SMK Seri Gading in the Parit Raja state constituency, while Segamat is housing 56 victims from 17 families across two relief centres.

Floodwaters have impacted several villages in the Jementah area of Segamat. No casualties have been reported.

Weather across most parts of Johor remained overcast by midday, with ongoing monitoring by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.