SMG flood mitigation initiative increases Klang River capacity by 18%
Syaiful Azmen Nordin, managing director of Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) appointed as the master developer of the SMG project, said the improved river section spans two of four key project blocks - from the Shah Alam-Klang border to the Shah Alam-Puchong border, and from the river mouth to Bandar Klang - identified as Blocks 3 and 1, respectively.
He said that the state government, through its agencies, is targeting a total increase of at least 40 per cent in river capacity by the end of this year after past data revealed that Klang River, especially in Selangor, could not accommodate upstream water overflow during heavy rains.
'Block 3, which covers flood-prone areas such as Sri Muda, Kota Kemuning, Section 17, and Section 24, requires special attention, as these are the most affected zones in recent flood events,' he told reporters after a site visit to the flood mitigation project in Kota Kemuning today.
The river widening and dredging works for the remaining two blocks - from Bandar Klang to Bandar Sultan Sulaiman (Block 2), and from the Shah Alam-Puchong border to Petaling Jaya-Kuala Lumpur (Block 4) - will begin next year, covering an additional 28.8 km.
According to Syaiful Azmen, construction on Blocks 1 and 3 is expected to be completed by year-end, after which a two-year enhancement and monitoring phase will begin, also managed by LLSB.
To date, around 94,000 tonnes of waste have been extracted from the river, at an estimated handling cost of RM20 million, he said.
'That RM20 million could've been used for other development initiatives, if only there was greater public awareness about river cleanliness,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
15 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
PJ MP warns RM10 million revenue loss from outsourced parking, urges councillor stand
PJ MP foresees huge revenue drop for MBPJ Petaling Jaya Member of Parliament Lee Chean Chung SHAH ALAM – Petaling Jaya Member of Parliament Lee Chean Chung plans to contact all city councillors, urging them to oppose the Selangor state government's decision to outsource parking fee collection to a private concessionaire. He warned that this move could result in an annual revenue loss of up to RM10 million for the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). Lee's concerns come in response to reports that the Selangor government has announced a new company will take over parking fee collection and enforcement for four local councils including MBPJ, Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) starting August 1. "MBPJ collected RM20 million a year. Assuming the same payment rate and a reduced commission from 90 per cent to 40 pe rcent, it will impact about RM10 million of revenue. "I will write to all city councillors and urge them to take a stand," he told Sinar Daily. The initiative, reportedly part of the Selangor Intelligent Parking (SIP) system, was confirmed by State Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim at the Selangor State Assembly on July 9. Ng explained that Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) made the appointment as part of the first phase of parking system centralisation. The goal is to improve collection rates, which currently stand at only around 30 per cent from an estimated 1,000 designated bays. While the state contends the move will boost efficiency and earnings, Lee fears it will have the opposite effect for MBPJ. As of press time, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has not responded to Sinar Daily's request for comment on the matter.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
US consumers ultimately the ones to bear increase in palm oil prices: Johari
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will not be significantly impacted by the newly imposed US tariff as the country primarily export products to the US that cannot be easily sourced or substituted domestically. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the tariff hike announced on Monday – raising duties on Malaysian goods from 10% to a combined 25% – targets a range of exports, but Malaysia's unique position in the global supply chain offers some protection from the effects. 'We are not the only country affected by these measures. What I want to emphasise is that, out of our total exports valued at RM186 billion, only about RM20 billion are exported to the US. 'Within this RM20 billion, our main exports to the US include rubber products, such as rubber gloves, furniture and wood products, oleochemicals, including palm oil and cocoa. 'When it comes to palm oil specifically, there is essentially no alternative available in the US market. Soybean oil cannot be converted into the same oleochemicals that our palm oil products provide. 'If the US imposes a 25% tariff on our products, it will ultimately be American consumers who bear the additional cost,' he told reporters at Malaysia Palm Oil Council's trade networking visit with international buyers today. Using rubber gloves as an example, Johari stated that Malaysia is not the only producer; China and Vietnam also manufacture them, and their exports face similarly high US tariffs, in some cases even higher than those imposed on Malaysia. 'This creates a highly competitive environment. The same applies to furniture; many countries produce furniture, including Malaysia. 'Ultimately, buyers make their decisions based on design and quality. If our designs are unique and appealing, there will still be demand, even if tariffs raise the final price. 'If the US imposes tariffs of 10% plus 25% or 5% plus 25%, that simply becomes part of the cost for buyers,' Johari said. Touching on exports, Johari said that last year, 40% of Malaysia's palm oil exports were directed to North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asean markets, beyond Malaysia's traditional trading partners. Exports to North Africa increased by 63.5% in 2024, while Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 26% year-on-year rise during the first five months of 2025. He said that this growing reliance on Malaysian palm oil to meet edible oil requirements highlights the importance of strengthening long-term partnerships and ensuring efficient and stable supply chains. 'Each region represented here today has distinct drivers of palm oil demand. In North Africa, Egypt serves as a strategic re-export hub, supplying markets across the region. In Sub-Saharan Africa, demand is rising for industrial applications, particularly in food processing, whereas in Asean, rapid growth in refining and food manufacturing continues to drive the need for a high-quality, reliable palm oil supply.' Johari said that by supporting the development of the downstream sector, Malaysia aims to embed its palm oil more firmly into local and regional value chains, adding economic value beyond the supply of raw materials. 'This approach not only strengthens supply chain integration, but also encourages joint ventures, technology transfer and local processing partnerships, fostering a long-term, resilient and shared industrial growth.' At the networking session, Johari said that for many decades, Malaysia has been a top producer of palm oil in the world. The palm oil plantation area in this country covers roughly 5.7 million hectares across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. The commodity is an export-oriented sector for the Malaysian economy, with 15.4 million tonnes out of the 19.3 million tonnes, or 80% of the palm oil produced was exported in 2024.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
US tariff hike on Malaysian goods to impact American palm oil importers
PETALING JAYA: The United States' decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Malaysian goods will primarily affect American importers of palm oil products, according to Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. He explained that Malaysia exports key commodities such as oleochemicals, rubber gloves, timber, furniture, and cocoa products to the US. Johari noted that Malaysia's commodity exports to the US total RM20 billion annually, a fraction of the country's overall RM186 billion commodity export value. He highlighted that palm oil-based oleochemicals have no direct substitute in the US market, as soybean oil cannot replicate their properties. 'If the US charges us a 25 per cent tariff, ultimately it is the American people who will have to pay,' Johari said after attending the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) Trade Networking Visit dialogue. He added that the Cabinet will review the tariff implications in an upcoming meeting. Malaysia is not the only country facing such tariffs, and Johari emphasised the need for adaptability in response to trade policy changes. The minister's remarks underscore the broader economic impact of protectionist measures on global supply chains. - Bernama
