Shah Alam fire and rescue department chief Ahmad Zaidi Safuan said about 180 houses were affected, with floodwaters rising to 1m in some areas.

He said the residents were temporarily placed at the Kemuning Utama Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) hall, Kosmo reported.

“Many were initially reluctant to leave as they were concerned about their homes. If heavy rain returns, it will complicate rescue efforts.

“For those aged above 50, evacuation is mandatory to make monitoring and safety efforts easier,” he was quoted as saying.

Zaidi said the drainage system in the housing area depends on water pumps.

“Upon inspection, we found that one of the main pumps was not functioning, which affected the removal of water, including from nearby drains.

“We have informed the department of irrigation and drainage, and their team is working to reactivate it,” he said.

Forty-eight personnel from several agencies, including the Shah Alam fire and rescue department, the Seri Kembangan volunteer fire brigade, MBSA and the civil defence force, were involved in the operation.