Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email GOODS worth about RM50mil were damaged in the recent flash flood that hit Kuala Lumpur, according to Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KLSICCI) vice chairman K. Ramesh.
Ramesh told a press conference that he was speaking on behalf of the business community in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR), Jalan Masjid India, Jalan Melayu and Jalan Dang Wangi.
“We have suffered great losses because of this flood and we have written many memorandums to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) about problems faced by the business community in this area.”
“They have yet to take any action, especially when it comes to the hawkers, who we believe contributed to the flood because they clog up the drains. The drainage system in this area and surrounding area is the worst and no matter how many times we complain, not much has been done,” he said.
 |
|
Sad state: Traders in Masjid India with their damaged goods
|
Ramesh also said Masjid India and Jalan TAR's property value was one of the highest and that it was sad that the KL assets were not being safe guarded by the authorities.
“This flood problem is a continuous issue. This is not the first time and we cannot tolerate it anymore. A total of 400 shops have suffered and tourism has suffered, something needs to be done,'' he said.
Ramesh said the DBKL must step up its actions and ensure that businesses, safety and lives were not continuously in danger because of floods.
“We want the authorities to not only listen and understand but to be proactive in this matter,” he said.
A representative from the Lebuh Ampang area, Abdul Rasul Abdul Razak, also expressed his concern over the recent flood.
“At the time of the flood, we did not see any uniformed officials around to help people and some people were injured. Every time it rains, the water level rises to about three feet and last Sunday it rose up to six feet,” he said.
“Somewhere, something is blocked, causing the rivers to overflow and DBKL must find a solution to this problem.”
He said that small shops in Lebuh Ampang were yet to open and that so far losses were an estimated RM10mil in the area alone.
