Penang identifies 51 flash flood hotspots, steps up monsoon preparedness, says Fire Dept

Sepang, November 1 — One of two flood bank strengthening sites in Kampung Rancangan Tanah Belia (RTB) Bukit Changgang is 80% complete and on track to be finished next week, surpassing its original January 2027 deadline. The project, managed by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), utilizes the Schematic Precast System (SPS) to fortify a land embankment that frequently experiences erosion from strong currents in Sungai Langat.

Engineer Luqman Hakim Omar stated that the remaining 20% of the project involves concreting, which is expected to be completed by the weekend before the site's handover to JPS.

The six-meter-high structure is composed of four concrete panels, each 1.5 meters tall, designed to withstand overflowing river water and prevent it from entering the village. With a danger level of 4.9 meters for the Langat River, Luqman explained that the soil at the site was identified as relatively weak due to the mixture with waste, making it one of the most vulnerable locations for embankment failure.

The SPS method reinforces the embankment by compacting the soil within concrete panels and lining them with geotextile and geogrid, ensuring strong soil-structure interaction and stability without the need for piles beneath it.

RTB Bukit Changgang village head Ahmad Fuad Alias expressed gratitude for the project, stating that residents were tired of dealing with property damage and disruptions caused by frequent flooding. Although some residents had initially questioned the strength of the new technology, they were satisfied after the engineers explained the method.

The village and surrounding areas have experienced frequent prolonged flooding, including during major floods in December 2021 and multiple incidents in 2022 and 2023. In late June, unusually heavy rain caused an earth embankment breach affecting around 3,000 residents.

The Selangor state government allocated RM7 million for repairs and embankment strengthening at the two sites using SPS technology, with completion scheduled for January 2027. The 2026/2027 North-east Monsoon (MTL) is forecast to begin on October 27 and last until March 2027, with three to five episodes of continuous heavy rain expected during the initial phase, from November to January.