Penang govt admits poor drainage system worsened situation

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GEORGE TOWN: The DAP-led Penang government yesterday has finally conceded that the floods currently affecting more than 100 areas in five districts in the state since Saturday is due to its poor drainage system.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow admitted that the existing drainage system could not accommodate the huge flow of water during heavy rain.

The extraordinary heavy rain since 2pm Saturday, which coincided with the peak of the high tide phenomenon, also contributed to the flash floods, he told reporters here yesterday.

He said heavy rainfall was recorded, with the highest at Seberang Perai Utara, at 372mm, followed by Seberang Perai Tengah (327mm), Timur Laut (289mm), Barat Daya (237mm) and Seberang Perai Selatan (165mm).

Almost all of Penang island was hit by flood following Saturday’s heavy rain, he said, adding that there were 75 reports of falling trees and eight reports on landslides.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government did not have adequate resources, in terms of manpower and equipment, to handle the

floods in Penang and expressed gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the assistance rendered.

Lim said he called the deputy prime minister at 3.30am and the latter immediately sent members of the Malaysian Armed Forces to Penang to help.

However, Lim said the state government had no intention of declaring an emergency in the state because of the flood as the situation was still under control. — Bernama