Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) will review all 23 of its identified flood hotspots next year to update its database and strengthen mitigation plans.
MBJB Engineering (drainage) senior assistant director Mohd Fadzil Suhaimi Talibin (pic) said current data reflected hotspots recorded several years ago, so there was a need for an update.
“The review will also rely on information from MBJB’s complaint channels, including the Public Complaints Management System and reports on social media,” he said at a tree-planting and fish-fry release programme at the Sungai Chat tributary in Johor Baru.
He said MBJB has resolved about 85% of issues at existing hotspots, with the remaining works targeted for completion next year.
“However, flood hotspots can never be declared 100% resolved as the problem can recur if we don’t continue maintenance.
“This is where public cooperation is vital, as technical solutions alone cannot prevent floods if residents continue to litter, block drains or build over drainage lines,” he said, adding that awareness programmes must be continued due to changing communities and new generations.
Mohd Fadzil also said MBJB differentiated between flash floods and monsoon floods, with the latter caused by river overflow and fell under the purview of the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
