Johor rolls out additional RM30m after flash floods hit state capital

Johor's government announced they will allocate an additional RM30 million next year to tackle flash flooding in the state capital, Johor Bahru. The extra funding aims to expedite the implementation of short- and medium-term flood mitigation measures, according to Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor.

Although the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) spent over RM100 million on flood measures in the past four years, Shukor acknowledged the weather remains unpredictable. The RM30 million allocation will be used to address issues not covered under the existing RM48 million flood mitigation projects scheduled for next year. Four key areas of focus include appointing specialist consultants to study the city's drainage systems, constructing underground retention facilities along Jalan Sungai Chat, increasing pumping capacity towards the Johor Straits, and upgrading monsoon drains through the Public Works Department.

Immediate measures will commence the following day, such as deepening the retention pond in Kampung Mohd Amin and lowering water levels in ponds like those in Taman Merdeka and Sungai Chat.