Menteri besar Amirudin Shari said a special task force had been set up to expedite the implementation of flood mitigation efforts, after acknowledging that agencies were working in silos which had resulted in delays in flood mitigation work.

“The state government has established a joint task force with the federal government and local authorities so that flood mitigation plans and efforts are implemented more comprehensively.

“In fact, I recently reiterated to the state executive council that we cannot delay the implementation of flood mitigation efforts, whether they involve the deepening of rivers or widening of drains,” he said in a speech at the investiture of state awards and medals in conjunction with the sultan’s 79th birthday at Istana Alam Shah here today.

Amirudin also said the state government had allocated RM1.77 billion for flood mitigation projects, with RM574.5 million set aside for Klang and RM1.2 billion for the Petaling district.

In his royal address at the launch of Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang on Dec 5, Sultan Sharafuddin had expressed disappointment over the cleanliness in Klang, pointing out that many areas were dirty and poorly organised, with rivers filled with litter.

He said he had repeatedly reprimanded and advised local authorities and the state government to take effective action to resolve the flooding issue in Klang and other districts in Selangor, yet floods continued to occur every year.