There is the fear of the impact that repeated water damage since the Selangor floods of 2021 has made on the building’s foundation. “Whenever it rains, we live in fear,” says Yogendran Krishnan, former secretary of the Koi Prima Residents Association.

The residents’ problems are not over after the floodwaters recede, because of damage to the lifts, said Yogendran.

“Even if the water level rises less than a foot, the lifts get damaged. Imagine the inconvenience if the lifts are out for two days or more,” he said.

Another resident, Gugan Ravi, told FMT they would sound the fire alarm whenever the water level starts to rise, “so that residents who have parked their vehicles on the ground floor or at street level can repark them on higher ground”.

A response team would also spring into action whenever there is a flood, waking up residents during the night to warn them of rising waters.

Gugan said that after the last major floods in 2022, the residents initially had to fork out a total of RM3 million to repair the communal property that had been damaged, although they were later compensated by the building’s insurers.

He said the frequent floods have forced some residents to move out and the value of the property had also dropped to half the original sale value.