SUBANG JAYA: Keadaan hujan dan cuaca tidak menentu memberi cabaran kepada pasukan teknikal untuk melakukan proses siasatan.

Ketua Polis Selangor, Datuk Hussein Omar Khan berkata, kerja korek tanah terpaksa dihentikan ketika hujan kerana struktur tanah yang tidak stabil.

“Selepas hujan reda, air yang bertakung perlu dipam keluar sebelum kerja mengorek tanah dapat diteruskan semula.

“Ini sedikit sebanyak akan melambatkan proses siasatan dapat dijalankan,” katanya ketika dihubungi Harian Metro hari ini.

Terdahulu, media melaporkan laporan lengkap berhubung insiden kebakaran paip gas yang berlaku di Putra Heights, minggu lalu dijangka diperoleh pertengahan Mei depan, lebih lewat dari jangkaan awal, disebabkan keadaan cuaca serta faktor kestabilan tanah di lokasi kejadian.

Menteri Besar Selangor, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari dilaporkan berkata, laporan awal sepatutnya diperoleh dalam tempoh dua minggu pertama selepas kejadian, namun kelewatan berlaku kerana keadaan tanah masih terlalu rapuh dan tidak selamat untuk dimasuki pasukan penyiasat.

In JOHOR, two temporary relief centres have been opened in Segamat, raising the number of those displaced by the floods in the state to 195 people, from 60 families as of 4 pm, compared with 148 victims, from 48 families, recorded this morning.

State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said that three temporary relief centres are currently in operation - one in Batu Pahat and two in Segamat, which were opened at 1 pm today.

He added that eight rivers in the state are at alert level, including Sungai Senggarang in Batu Pahat, with a reading of 3.09 metres, and Sungai Batu Pahat at 2.30 metres.

He added that other rivers currently at alert level include Sungai Pulai in Kampung Ulu Pulai, Pontian, with a reading of 1.88 metres, Sungai Belemang Besar at Simpang 5 Darat, Tangkak (4.08 metres), and Sungai Endau in Kampung Labong, Mersing (1.01 metres).

In SABAH, the number of flood evacuees rose to 890 individuals, from 259 families, as of this evening, compared with 875 people, from 254 families, recorded earlier in the day. Evacuees are being housed in 10 temporary relief centres (PPS).

According to the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat, Nabawan remains the worst-hit area, with 467 people, from 119 families, sheltering in six centres, followed by Sook (239 people, 79 families, two centres), Beaufort (108 people, 40 families, one centre) and Keningau (76 people, 21 families, one centre).

“A total of 40 villages were affected by the floods, with 30 villages in Nabawan, six villages in Beaufort and two villages each in Sook and Keningau,” it said in a statement, today.

KOTA KINABALU (Apr 14): Liawan assemblyman Datuk Annuar Ayub Aman has sounded the alarm on worsening traffic congestion, repeated flood damage and dilapidated infrastructure in his constituency, calling on the state and federal governments to take immediate and long-term action.

Annuar stressed that Keningau, as the administrative and economic heart of Sabah’s interior, is suffering from development bottlenecks due to outdated roads and insufficient infrastructure.

“The traffic situation in Keningau town is becoming increasingly critical. It is affecting local residents and business owners alike,” he said, citing the need for the swift completion of the Sungai Liawan Bridge in Kampung Semalang.

According to Annuar, the bridge meant to serve as an alternative route to ease congestion was initially scheduled for completion in May, but is now only expected to be ready by August.

“I seek clarification from the ministry on the cause of this delay. We cannot afford to let infrastructure delays stall economic progress,” he added and also requested an update on the proposed ‘relief road’ project in Keningau, which he believes could be a long-term solution to the town’s traffic burden.

On rural connectivity, Annuar called for Jalan Tarapa, Jalan Gaulan, Jalan Batu 27 and Jalan Sigapon to be upgraded and paved, and for urban roads to be widened in anticipation of rising traffic volumes.

“Short-term measures must be implemented now. At the same time, we need a more systematic, long-term plan that includes upgrading existing roads and building new, more efficient routes,” he said.

Annuar also highlighted the devastating floods that struck his constituency in February, March and even as recently as this month.

Villages such as Kampung Kauran experienced severe flooding due to overflowing rivers, resulting in damaged infrastructure and submerged homes.

“The damage is immense. River embankments must be strengthened, drainage improved, and high-risk areas monitored regularly to avoid recurrence,” he said, appealing for stronger disaster mitigation measures.

The floods also revealed gaps in emergency preparedness and Annuar revealed that some flood victims had to be temporarily housed in a village chief’s residence after the designated temporary evacuation centre (PPS) failed to meet minimum standards.

“This should not happen. District offices must be supplied with basic items like partition blocks, mattresses and blankets to house evacuees comfortably,” he said, urging a review of PPS facilities across the constituency.

The Liawan assemblyman also raised concerns about the poor condition of village roads, many of which have exceeded their usable lifespan.

“Most of these roads are full of potholes and seriously damaged. Current maintenance only involves patching with crushed stone, which is a short-term fix at best,” he said.

He emphasized the impact on daily life and the rural economy, particularly for farmers, students and small traders who rely on these roads to reach markets, schools and customers.

“I urge the government to resurface these roads with durable asphalt and include them in regular maintenance plans,” he said, noting that agricultural roads not covered by any government or JKR concession must also be given attention.

On education, Annuar said the condition of access roads to schools is hampering rural students’ ability to attend classes safely.

“Sekolah Kebangsaan Ulu Senagang and Sekolah Kebangsaan Gaulan still have unpaved gravel access roads. It’s time for the state and federal governments to prioritize upgrading these routes,” he said.

He added that many schools in the interior still lack basic infrastructure such as treated water, electricity and proper road access.

“The people want more than explanations. They want concrete action that leads to real, positive change,” Annuar stressed.

Ending his address, he urged all stakeholders to work together and not betray the trust placed in them.

“Let us not waste the people’s trust with empty promises. We must ensure their voices are heard, respected and fought for,” he said.

Residents of Taman Sri Muda here are demanding immediate government action to resolve the long-standing flood issues plaguing the area since 1995, warning that they will stage a protest if no action is taken.

At a press conference, Umaghandan Krishnan, 40, claimed the two newly-built water pumps in the area failed to operate properly during the recent spells of heavy rain, resulting in floods on April 11.

“By the morning, it was already flooded. We went and checked (the flood pump station). The water gate was open, but two of the pumps were not running and had no electricity.

“The person who told us this was one of the pump station workers. The new pumps were built just last year, but now they are not functioning. Only the older pump was working,” he said.

Umaghandan said he saw around 700 houses affected, with floodwaters at the knee and waist level, while more were affected by shallow waters.

He also claimed no government representatives or agencies have approached the residents or made a statement to address the issue, nor provided financial aid, despite most of Taman Sri Muda’s residents being in the B40 group.

“We already know that they (the government) are planning to organise a town hall meeting next month. By then, we will have water up to our necks.

“So we’re giving the government seven days from today.

“If by this Sunday (April 20) we hear no news from the government – be it the state or federal government, the menteri besar, prime minister, ministries or whoever – we will hold a protest in Taman Sri Muda, because we believe there’s no other solution,” he said.

Previously, Kota Kemuning assemblyman S Preakas said heavy rain caused widespread flooding in Taman Sri Muda, Taman Desa Kemuning, Kampung Bukit Lanchong, Bukit Kemuning and Kampung Lanchong Jaya.

Preakas said the floods had recurred despite the state’s heavy investment in flood mitigation measures, and urged Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari to address the matter.

He said floods spreading beyond Taman Sri Muda proved the existing mitigation system, including the pumps and drainage infrastructure, was still inadequate to handle heavy rain.

Suzanna Kassim, a resident of 30 years, said she was struggling financially from the damage to her home caused by the floods, having only received RM2,000 from the government during the previous flood incident.

“An NGO gave me RM1,000. The government still wants to assess my house even though all the walls and ceilings are already ruined,” she said.

Another resident, Normah Hussein, 67, also expressed disappointment that the government had not provided financial support. She said she had incurred more than RM80,000 in damage from the recurring floods.

“During one of the major floods in 2001, my house was flooded for four days. I had to drink murky pipe water with my cats.

“Why should we have to move? We love this place. I have lived in this house for so long, I won’t run away from Taman Sri Muda.

“No matter what, I’ll stay loyal to Taman Sri Muda,” she said, when asked if she had considered moving.