KUALA LUMPUR – Two former Selangor menteris besar (MBs) have welcomed calls for a probe into the development of Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam, which was inundated by deadly floodwaters last weekend.
However, they said an investigation would not necessarily lead to any convictions, as the individuals involved have either aged or are deceased.
When contacted yesterday, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib and Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said they fully support the proposed investigation into elements of corruption in the expansion of the township in Section 25, Shah Alam.
They stressed that priority should be on preventing the repeat of a similar disaster.
Muhammad – popularly known as Mat Taib or Mat Tyson, and who was Selangor MB between 1986 and 1997 – said the residential project was approved in 1982 while his predecessor, the late Tan Sri Ahmad Razali Mohd Ali, held the post.
“When I was MB, this project had been going on for four years. People had already bought properties and made payments to the banks,” Muhammad told The Vibes.
That was the situation when I came in – the project seemed normal.
“Looking at residential areas anywhere, how would you know that they would be hit by floods decades later? I became MB in 1986. It’s been more than 30 years, so I could not have predicted the severity of the floods that hit Taman Sri Muda.”
The authorities have recorded 14 fatalities in Shah Alam as of Wednesday, following the worst floods the area has seen in over 20 years.
Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub – Sinar Harian managing editor and head of anti-graft non-governmental organisation Rasuah Busters – has urged the authorities to launch an investigation into the incident.
Hussamuddin claimed that a large portion of the township was meant to be a water catchment area, and that the developer allegedly did not comply with directives to build a 2m embankment.
Asked whether he knew that Taman Sri Muda was meant to be a water retention area, Muhammad playfully said one would have to refer to his predecessor.
“On the catchment area, you would have to ask Razali as he approved the development (of the area). He has passed away, so you would have to visit his grave and ask him,” he quipped.
“I 100% support any investigation on how it was approved, but the officials involved have died. You would have to ask the developer – did they follow the conditions set by the local council? If they did not, action needs to be taken.”
Regardless of the probe, Muhammad said the flooding in Taman Sri Muda and other parts of the country was unprecedented, adding that the government must act swiftly in providing assistance to victims.
‘Area was a headache to manage’
Echoing Muhammad’s stance, Dr Khir said he supports the proposal for an investigation, but noted that it is more pressing for the federal and state governments to address issues faced by the area.
“I agree that it was overdeveloped,” he said.
“From my experience, Taman Sri Muda was overdeveloped and did not have proper planning because it was mixed with an industrial area and shophouses that were not properly situated, as well as having improper monsoon drains,” said Dr Khir, who was Selangor MB between 2000 and 2008.
“It was a headache to manage during my time. I had resolved some issues involving food stalls and built a police station there, as well as a water pump.
“Minor flash floods were common, but not to the point where the township was completely submerged. I believe (the latest major floods there) occurred after 25 years.”
He hopes the authorities can determine whether there have been elements of mismanagement, apart from identifying all those involved in the matter.
It stretches back to 30 or 40 years ago, and those involved are probably no longer around. We can go on and investigate, but it’s more important to see how we can solve the problem.
“We should not find fault when the officials involved have died – it’s not like we can take action against them. Almost 30-plus years have gone by, and if the officials were 50 then, they would be 80 now.”
Meanwhile, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Thursday said the Barisan Nasional-led Selangor government had begun the Canal City project in 2008, which involved an 18km water strait near Taman Sri Muda and Kota Kemuning.
On Facebook, Najib panned the Pakatan Harapan-led state government under former MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, which had cancelled the project in 2009 after wresting Selangor in the general election the year before.
Najib said the RM3 billion Canal City project – if completed – would have shifted 30% of Sg Klang’s water capacity into Sg Langat, if the former was overflowing.
“If the water canal can reduce the risk of floods, as well as increase Selangor’s raw water reserves, then I think there is a need to review the implementation of this project,” he added.
Dr Khir said it is no use playing the blame game, as this will not solve the existing problem.
“But Khalid had cancelled that project. The sad thing is that he had given the site of the project to others (for development),” he said.
“The water levels will rise in Selangor every year due to global warming. The state government now must think of ways for water to be channelled between the two rivers during critical periods.”
Dr Khir said when he held the MB post, he also ensured that all residential developments in the state had retention ponds.
“The local and state governments must make this mandatory. If you look at Taman Setia Alam and Bukit Jelutong, I made the developers build retention ponds that would later become lakes for recreational areas.
“But now this standard operating procedure is not followed, which is why I am very frustrated.” – The Vibes, December 25, 2021
