IWK refutes Taman Sri Muda flood claim, says drain clogs — not treated discharge — to blame
According to IWK, its operations team conducted an inspection following a complaint by Zone 9 city councillor Ramu Nadarajan and found that the primary cause of the overflow in drains and ditches was poor maintenance.
'The drainage system was clogged with rubbish, sediment and tree roots, which obstructed water flow,' the company said in a statement today.
As a result, treated effluent from a nearby sewage treatment plant (STP) and rainwater from the residential area could not drain properly.
IWK added that the area's low-lying location and its proximity to Sungai Klang also contribute to frequent flooding.
IWK clarified that the existing sewerage infrastructure and STP, which have been in operation for over 30 years, were built in accordance with technical plans based on the area's original development design.
'The discharge route for treated effluent has remained unchanged since the plant was built,' it said.
The company also stated that two Aerated Lagoon-type STPs serve the neighbourhood and both are operating within their designed population equivalent (PE) capacity, without signs of overloading.
The findings have been shared with the Zone 9 councillor and the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
Earlier, SelangorKini reported that Ramu had urged IWK to redirect the treated discharge, claiming the existing route was contributing to repeated floods in the area. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘Is it fair to bring a child into this?': Experts weigh in on financial, global fears stalling Malaysian youth's family plans
KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Malaysia's youths do want to start a family, but many aren't sure if it's the right time as financial realities stand in the way, along with quiet doubts about the future. Researchers say it's a dilemma reflected not only in surveys, but also in new global research showing similar anxieties across both rich and developing countries. 'I think young people are currently struggling with the daily struggles of everyday life that are not very easily captured in statistics,' said Universiti Malaya senior lecturer Vilashini Somiah at a recent forum here in conjunction with World Population Day. The anthropologist said that apart from financial worries — including the cost of living, education loans and high housing prices — young people also face emotional pressures, such as anxiety over global events. She noted that although Malaysia is not in conflict, global wars still weigh on the minds of the youth. 'I always hear from youths — 'I'm willing to marry, I don't know if I want a child',' she said. When asked why, she said they often respond: ''I don't know if I want to have a child when the world now is topsy turvy and I don't know whether that reality actually has stability for my child then.' 'So generally, the question of desire is not a big issue. To me, it is a question of responsibility. So the question asked by youths is, 'is it fair for them to bring a child into such a world that is very uncertain',' she added. Vilashini's remarks match the global reality, as shown by the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) State of World Population 2025 Report titled "The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World". The UNFPA report draws on a YouGov survey of over 14,000 adults across 14 countries, examining barriers to having their desired number of children. Although Malaysia was not included, the survey featured regional neighbours such as Thailand and Indonesia. UNFPA Malaysia's Country Representative, Dr Julitta Onabanjo said more than half of those surveyed cited financial factors: 'In every one of the 14 surveyed countries, the number one barrier hampering people from realising their family formation goals was economic.' In total, 39 per cent of those surveyed said financial constraints had caused or could cause them to have fewer children than they wanted, while 20 per cent cited unemployment or job insecurity. Nineteen per cent cited housing limitations (such as high house prices or rent), while 12 per cent cited lack of sufficient or quality childcare options. Another 11 per cent pointed to insufficient involvement from their partner in housework and caregiving. UNFPA Malaysia's assistant representative Tengku Aira Tengku Razif said it is important to enable people to have the number of children they actually desire, instead of settling for less children. — Picture courtesy of UNFPA Malaysia UNFPA Malaysia's assistant representative, Tengku Aira Tengku Razif, told Malay Mail that the global survey's findings are relevant to Malaysia, as they mirror past data and reflect ongoing local trends. The UNFPA report identified three key barriers to reproductive agency — the ability to make informed decisions about having children. These are: economic constraints; gender inequality, such as women bearing the bulk of domestic responsibilities; and fear about the future, including concerns over war, pandemics and climate change. Tengku Aira pointed out that Malaysia's own Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey (MPFS) in 2014 had already highlighted financial hardship as a major factor. She said this is likely to remain the most significant issue today, especially given the rising cost of living. She said there are plans to study if the third factor of anxiety about the future is also applicable to Malaysia. When commenting on reproductive agency, Tengku Aira said it is important to have an ecosystem that will enable people to have the number of children that they really want, instead of managing their own expectations by aiming and settling for a lower number. What Malaysia's numbers say According to the National Population and Family Development Board's (LPPKN) 2014 family survey, 86.8 per cent of singles wanted to marry, but many cited financial reasons for remaining single. Among men, financial problems were the top reason at 56 per cent; for women, it was the second-highest at 26 per cent. Screengrab from the Fifth Malaysian Population and Family Survey in 2014. The same survey found that 40.9 per cent of married women wanted another child. On average, they desired 3.9 children, but adjusted that to 3.5 after considering financial constraints. LPPKN has yet to release data from its latest survey, which began last year. Meanwhile, EPF's Belanjawanku 2024/2025 guide estimates that a married couple with two children needs a minimum of RM5,880 to RM7,440 per month to meet basic living costs in selected cities — reflecting the growing cost of raising a family. UNFPA Malaysia representative Julitta Onabanjo said financial limitations was the number one reason why people in a global survey said they could not have as many children as they actually wanted. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin What are UNFPA's recommendations for Malaysia? Based on the UNFPA report's findings, Dr Julitta outlined four recommendations to help Malaysia build an ecosystem where families can have the number of children they want. 1. Improve access to sexual and reproductive health services. This includes age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education, such as LPPKN's Pekerti and SmartStart programmes. It also involves access to infertility treatment, family planning, family-friendly policies like paid parental leave, and affordable, high-quality childcare. 2. Address gender inequality. Dr Julitta called for both parents to share childcare and parenting responsibilities. She also emphasised equal opportunities for women in education and employment. Malaysia, she noted, has made commendable progress by introducing laws such as anti-stalking laws and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act. 3. Strengthen economic support and socio-economic policies. This includes creating more jobs for youths and improving the care economy. Dr Julitta also suggested boosting Malaysia's female labour force participation rate — currently at 56.2 per cent — through better health and education outcomes and more supportive workplace policies. 4. Improve data collection. She said more comprehensive and disaggregated data is needed to guide effective, targeted policies. Dr Julitta said there is a need to go beyond national-level data, as there can be different aspirations in certain districts or parts of the country, whether it is urban or rural. 'It is important to segregate that data better and to also ensure that the data tells us in the macro sense, what is the issue,' she said. 'But in the micro sense — how the individual is feeling — that data also needs to be part of the whole data system to be able to inform the policy and the programmes that we have.' She said that Malaysia is already implementing some of these recommendations and can do better in some of these areas. LPPKN chairman Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim told Malay Mail that LPPKN is ready to take on strategic partner UNFPA's recommendations. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin LPPKN chairman Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim told Malay Mail that the board would adopt UNFPA's four recommendations, noting that Malaysia already has some related programmes in place. 'We are taking up all the recommendations, and it's good because they benchmark with 14 countries, meaning to say, we know we are not alone,' she said. She also suggested solutions such as government-supported childcare, flexible working arrangements, and support for online businesses to help parents balance work and family life.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Guidelines on vertical schools finalised, to be brought to Cabinet
Deputy education minister Wong Kah Woh said they had engaged the housing and local government ministry, public works department, fire and rescue department, as well as parents and teachers. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The education ministry has finalised its guidelines for the development of vertical schools, taking into account basic principles for the design, including supervision and student safety. Deputy education minister Wong Kah Woh said the guidelines would be presented to the Cabinet soon. He said the ministry took into account several factors in determining the concept, including vertical movement safety, accessibility for students with special needs, as well as students' emotional and social well-being. 'We also looked into technical aspects such as acoustics, soundproofing, lighting and natural ventilation, emergency routes, building structure, maintenance and strata management,' he told the Dewan Rakyat today. He was replying to Muslimin Yahaya's (PN-Sungai Besar) question about Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) proposal to construct a two-block vertical school of between 10 and 17 storeys. To refine the design of these schools, Wong said they had engaged the housing and local government ministry, public works department, fire and rescue department, as well as parents and teachers. He said the housing and local government ministry had proposed three models, namely constructing schools on land specifically earmarked for education purposes; incorporating community facilities such as clinics and libraries; and integrating school buildings with residential and commercial developments. Wong added that the implementation of vertical schools would be subject to assessments by the education ministry and the relevant technical agencies, particularly in areas with populations exceeding one million. DBKL previously proposed the construction of more vertical-concept schools to address land constraints and the growing population in the capital city.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Malay Mail
From comfort food to café chic: The rise of ‘ochazuke' across the Klang Valley
COMMENTARY, July 29 – It is a truth universally acknowledged that café culture in Kuala Lumpur rarely stands still. There's always something new to sip or savour, whether it's artisanal matcha or the umpteenth variation on croissants (cronuts, cruffins, cragels, crookies... and who knows what's next?). Yet amid the steady churn of trends, a quieter dish has begun to surface – ochazuke, the Japanese comfort classic of steamed rice topped with savouries and finished with a pour of hot tea or broth. I began noticing it as a kind of culinary murmur. Ochazuke Salmon Yaki Onigiri at Yaki Soul. — Picture from Yaki Soul At Shan Mu in Taman Connaught, the salmon ochazuke arrived in a minimalist bowl: the cooked rice is topped with poached salmon, bonito flakes, seaweed, a halved soft-boiled egg and ikura (cured salmon roe). Our server poured some Japanese sencha over it and you have a dish even folks who don't love tea – or rice, for that matter – would appreciate. A 20-minute drive away in Maluri, I had enjoyed a fusion style poké bowl ochazuke at Hello Summer. It was an unrestrained kaleidoscope of ingredients: cubes of salmon, tuna, cucumber, sweetcorn and tomato atop rice. Niku Ochazuke at Fukuniku. — Picture from Fukuniku Ochazuke, it turns out, has become a kind of blank canvas in KL's food scene. Each café seemed eager to give the dish its own spin. In Japan, ochazuke literally translates to 'tea over rice,' and its origins go back to the Edo period. Workers with little time would douse their bowls of rice with hot tea or dashi for a fast, filling meal. Over the years, it shifted in form: from a humble household staple to instant packets in supermarket aisles and, more recently, a refined palate cleanser in izakayas (such as the Ochazuke Salmon Yaki Onigiri at Yaki Soul in Bukit Bintang). Its appeal lies in simplicity. At its core, ochazuke is just rice, toppings – perhaps grilled fish, umeboshi (Japanese pickled plum), toasted sesame, or crisp seaweed – and a liquid base, whether green tea, roasted genmaicha, or savoury broth. But as I discovered wandering from café to café, and restaurant to restaurant across Klang Valley, its versatility is why ochazuke has become a trending menu item. For one, it's a feast for the eyes: a bowl of ochazuke seems almost designed for the Instagram age. Consider the Niku Ochazuke at Fukuniku in Bangsar South: a perfectly seared hanbagu patty balanced on rice, the deep umami aroma of genmaicha rising as tea cascades over the dish. Beautiful. KL's cafés also thrive on cross-cultural creativity, and ochazuke offers a malleable foundation. At Alluring Café & Dining in Taman Bukit Cheras, the cheekily named Porkyzuke features handmade pork balls, lard, baby corn and edamame in a shoyu broth. As more diners seek cleaner, restorative fare, ochazuke feels almost tailor-made for this moment. Towzen, a vegan-friendly spot in Bukit Damansara, serves a vegetarian version brimming with tofu, umeboshi, kailan, bamboo shoots, rice crackers and wasabi flavoured sesame. There's also something profoundly calming about the act itself – gently pouring hot tea over rice, pausing as the steam rises. The experience brings to mind the mindful eating practices described by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh: 'We tend to eat a little more slowly, to allow us to really savor every mouthful... to really slow down and encounter the food, without rushing to swallow. When we can do this, we have a chance to touch peace and freedom right in the present moment.' Each bite becomes a small, deliberate act, a momentary retreat from the city's relentless pace. Ochazuke's growing popularity across cafés in KL speaks to a broader shift in dining preferences. Patrons no longer crave only photogenic food; they seek meals that offer both nourishment and a sense of connection. A bowl of ochazuke does both, carrying centuries of Japanese tradition while leaving ample room for contemporary reinterpretation. What draws us to ochazuke is not just its flavour or visual appeal, but how it might just be the ultimate comfort food especially in times of uncertainty. Who wouldn't want a warm embrace in the form of one delicious spoonful after another? Slowly, of course.
