RETIRED TEACHER WHOSE CAR FELL INTO SEWERAGE SHAFT DIES

The retired teacher whose car fell into a 12 metre deep sewerage reticulation shaft in Petaling Jaya dies in hospital, the New Straits Times reports.

As far as I know, this is the first time that there has been a fatality related to the Petaling Jaya North Sewer which is under construction in and around my vicinity.

None of the "alternative" media carried reports about this unfortunate death. I suppose it is not "sexy" enough for them.

Correction: Free Malaysia Today carried reports about Mr. Yong's passing, though searching for them is like searching for a needle in a haystack.

On 15 May, Free Malaysia Today reported:-

Ex-headmaster Yong dies after PJ manhole accident

And on 16 May, Free Malaysia Today reported:-

Over 100 pay respects to construction hole crash victim

Earlier New Straits Times report referred to follows below:-

Senior citizen whose car fell into PJ sewage hole, dies

By Hariz Mohd - 15 May 2016 @ 6:58 PM

PETALING JAYA: An octogenarian whose car plunged into a 12m-deep sewage hole in Section 17, here, on May 3, died in hospital earlier today. District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Zani Che Din said the victim - Yong Chee Seng, 86, was pronounced dead by doctors at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, here, about noon. "The victim died at UMMC about noon today. A post-mortem will be conducted tomorrow to ascertain the cause of his death," he told the New Straits Times when contacted. Mohd Zani said the post-mortem is expected to be conducted tomorrow (Monday). He said Yong, a retired headmaster, had been warded at the hospital for treatment ever since he was rushed there after the accident. The May 3 incident happened about 2pm when Yong lost control of his Toyota Vios and crashed through safety barriers before it plunged into the uncovered sewage hole at Jalan 17/14. Yong was heading home with his Filipino maid after dropping his sister off at her condominium in SS2 here. The victim was reported as saying that he had injured his neck in the accident, while the 30-year-old maid sustained injuries to the right eye. They were rescued by a team of firemen from Damansara Fire and Rescue Station, who used a winch to pull out the Vios. 1666 reads An octogenarian whose car plunged into a 12m-deep sewage hole in Section 17, here, on May 3, died in hospital earlier today. Pix by Hani Shamira An octogenarian whose car plunged into a 12m-deep sewage hole in Section 17, here, on May 3, died in hospital earlier today. Pix by Hani Shamira

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/145747/senior-citizen-whose-car-fell-pj-sewage-hole-dies

In another report, The Sun demands that the contractors be held responsible for this unfortunate accident and provides greater detail about the incident.

Hold them responsible Posted on 15 May 2016 - 08:07pm
Last updated on 16 May 2016 - 12:01am Lee Choon Fai and Haikal Jalil
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Various quarters today called for strict action to be taken against contractors who are negligent in ensuring public safety when carrying out public works.

This follows the death of 86-year-old former Methodist Boys School headmaster Yong Chee Seng, whose car had plunged into an uncovered 12m-deep pipe-jacking pit on May 3. Yong died at 11pm on Saturday at the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) where he was warded.

Yong and his 30-year old maid, who was in the car with him, were earlier reported to have suffered head and body injuries following the accident.

The accident and Yong's death have aroused strong reactions from government agencies and concerned citizens alike who called for stricter enforcement and action against errant contractors.

"His body could not take the trauma caused by the accident due to his advanced age; he even suffered a major heart attack in the morning on the day before he passed away," said Yong's cousin Key Soon Yue, who called for heads to roll over the incident.

"The hole was not covered and the barriers were just cones. Those responsible must be penalised, even charged in court," Key told theSun.

Meanwhile, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said that the pit, which was to facilitate the laying of underground pipes, must be covered when construction was not going on and surrounded with concrete barriers instead of just cones which can be knocked down easily.

He called on local authorities to review regulations and conditions imposed on contractors in the interest of public safety.

"More often than not, contractors merely pay lip service to safety just to get their projects approved and the lack of safety is immediately apparent if one is to inspect the work sites. The state of safety management is deplorable!" said Lee.

Road Safety Department (RSD) director general Abd Ghafar Yusof said stricter enforcement was needed by local councils so contractors would follow safety standards.

"Any contractor who fails to adhere to safety standards has to be identified and penalised immediately. It is not good enough to take action only after someone gets hurt," he said.

Road Transport Department (RTD) enforcement director Datuk Valluvan Veloo said the RTD would engage with local councils and the Urban Wellbeing, Housing, and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to improve safety near work sites.

He said RTD viewed Yong's accident seriously and was very concerned with the low level of safety seen at several construction sites on public roads.

"I often wonder if local councils conduct checks on roadworks in ensuring adequate safety measures are practised," said Valluvan.

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) civil engineering professor Law Teik Hua suggested that local authorities come up with strict, comprehensive safety guidelines so that contractors would know exactly what they need to do.


http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1802654

Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is right when he said that Malaysia "has a "first world infrastructure with a third world mentality".

Good question by Datuk Valluvan Vello - i.e. what was the local council - i.e. the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) doing to ensure better road safety at such work sites.

Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. Hopefully they will be able to get more than adequate compensation for their tragic loss.

May God bless his soul.

Charles F. Moreira

KUALA LUMPUR CITY HALL WILLING TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED CORRUPTION RELATED TO FLASH FLOODS

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) says it is willing to cooperate with other authorities to investigate any alleged corruption related to the recent flash floods;

Free Malaysia Today carries this BERNAMA report.

DBKL says tough to check for flash-flood corruption

May 15, 2016

City Hall ready to cooperate with MACC after Zahid calls for probe into mega projects.

KUALA LUMPUR: City Hall is prepared to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate allegations of corruption in development projects which have been blamed for the occurence of flash floods.

DBKL’s planning department executive director Mohd Najib Mohd said DBKL would also run its own checks “but I am not so sure of the outcome as the matter involves many parties and contractors, including the Drainage and Irrigation Department” he said.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had remarked that the government would investigate elements of corruption in development projects in the federal capital following the recent flash floods.

Mohd Najib said DBKL was still collecting information on existing infrastructure and efficient measures which could be taken to overcome flash flood issues in the city.

“For short-term measures, we will be improving communication between the operations room and our men on the ground, at least we will be in a state of full preparedness when facing the problem,” he said.

Mohd Najib said five locations had been identified as flood-prone hot spots: the areas around Jalan Duta, Bangsar, Bank Negara, Bukit Tunku and Cheras.

He said DBKL would hand over reports on the flash floods to Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor tomorrow and discuss the actions needed to be taken to resolve the matter.

– BERNAMA


http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/05/15/dbkl-says-tough-to-check-for-corruption-by-itself/

SO WILL SEE AN END TO FLASH FLOODS IN THE KLANG VALLEY AFTER THIS?

It has been raining continuously in Petaling Jaya since 6 pm this Saturday 14th of May, somewhat like the continuous rain last Thursday evening which resulted in flash floods on major roads in Kuala Lumpur which I highlighted in my earlier blog posts on Thursday evening but there are no media reports of flooding today evening. Well, I guess it's a Saturday evening thing and reporters are off.

Anyway, below are three reports by BERNAMA - Malaysia's national news agency on statements by ministers and the Deputy Prime Minister on the causes of the flash floods and actions they recommend and propose.

Great statements and proposals for action by the Federal Government ministers but will these proposed actions solve these chronic and recurring problems of flash floods plaguing the Klang Valley?

BERNAMA reports on its own website on 12th May, the day when the flash floods referred to occurred in the evening:-

DBKL To Use Pipe Jacking System To Solve Flash Floods At 4 1/2 Mile Jln Klang Lama Market

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has proposed the installation of underground pipes at the 4 1/2 Mile Jalan Klang Lama market to solve flash floods in the area.

DBKL Civil Engineering and Urban Transportation Department deputy director Sabudin Mohd Saleh said the pipe jacking process will start from the market to across the street, heading towards Sungai Klang to allow smooth flow of water.

"The flash floods occurred because the housing development project is situated too close to the market and the existing pipes cannot accommodate the storm runoff," he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

However, Sabudin said the proposal was still being discussed and detailed studies were needed before its implementation.

Meanwhile, DBKL advisory board member Datuk Wilson Lau Hoi Keong who visited the market today said some 100 traders were affected when the market was flooded on May 2.

Lau said following the visit, DBKL would hold a meeting with the traders, Pasar Batu 4 Jalan Klang Lama Hawker Association, concessionaire Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and the housing project developer to resolve problems.

-- BERNAMA


http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v8/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1245126


On 13th May, Free Malaysia Today carried this BERNAMA report:-

Inefficient street drainage cause of KL flash floods

May 13, 2016

Minister says drainage system for the Jalan Duta, Universiti Malaya and Bangsar areas needs to be upgraded by the authorities.





PUTRAJAYA: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has attributed the cause of severe flash floods in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to an inefficient street drainage system.

He said that as a short-term measure, the drainage waterways would have to be deepened and maintenance of the system would have to be carried out more regularly.

“As a long-term measure, the drainage system for the Jalan Duta, Universiti Malaya and Bangsar areas will have to be upgraded by the authorities,” he told a press conference on the floods today.

The roads worst affected by the floods in Kuala Lumpur yesterday were Jalan Semantan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim (Jalan Duta), Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Pantai Baharu.

Wan Junaidi said he did not rule out the possibility that the flash floods in Jalan Duta were caused by the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in the area.

“I may speak to them,” he said when asked whether he would discuss the matter with the MRT authorities.

He said the Department of Irrigation and Drainage had prepared an environmentally friendly drainage master plan and detailed design in accordance with the Environmentally Friendly Drainage Manual for submission to the state governments and local authorities as construction and maintenance of street drainage systems came under their jurisdiction.

Wan Junaidi advised the people against throwing refuse into the drainage systems and rivers so as to reduce the risk of flash floods and to enable the systems to function at full capacity.

– BERNAMA

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/05/13/inefficient-street-drainage-cause-of-kl-flash-floods/




Also on 13th May, Free Malaysia Today carred ins BERNAMA report about the statement by Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project implementation partner MMC-Gamuda rebutting allegations that its construction works were responsible for the flash floods.

MRT project didn't cause flash floods, says MMC Gamuda

May 13, 2016

Company says work now relates to tracks and signalling, ground activities are complete with permanent drainage that is well-maintained.





KUALA LUMPUR: MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd, the project delivery partner of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), clarified that the flash flood that occurred near Jalan Duta yesterday evening was not related to the MRT construction.

MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP), in a statement today, said based on the investigations conducted, the incident was not caused by nor related to the construction of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) line.

“The current construction activities at MRT Jalan Duta worksite are carried out on the MRT elevated viaduct, such as the train and the signaling works.

“The ground activities, such as civil works and permanent drainage, have been completed and continuously well-maintained,” the statement said.

MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) said it would continue to work hand-in-hand with its Work Package Contractors to provide support to the public along the SBK MRT alignment during this rainy season.

– BERNAMA

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/05/13/mrt-project-didnt-cause-flash-floods-says-mmc-gamuda/

And today, 14th May 2016, Free Malaysia Today carried this BERNAMA report:-

Flash floods: Probe into corruption in mega-projects

May 14, 2016

Zahid: those accusing each other to be ordered to work together to find best solution.





KUALA LUMPUR: The government will investigate possible elements of corruption in development projects in the federal capital, especially those involving mega projects, which might have triggered the recent flash floods.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the authorities responsible would be asked to conduct investigations and provide full reports on the incident to enable follow-up actions to be taken.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Disasters, said parties accusing each other of the problem would be ordered to sit down and find the best solution to tackle the issue.

“The best is to resolve the people’s problem in both the short and long term so that it would not recur. There should be no flash floods in Kuala Lumpur as the system and infrastructure for flood management were good.

“Maybe there is a problem with draining water from excessive rain…I will assist the ministries and departments concerned to resolve the problem,” he said.

– BERNAMA

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/05/14/flash-floods-probe-into-corruption-in-mega-projects/

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT FROM DAVID FOO

In response to my posts below, Section 12, Petaling Jaya residents and environmental activist David Foo provides an eye-witness account of water on roads in the Bangsar area of Kuala Lumpur, about two kilometres from the border with Petaling Jaya.

Last Saturday evening - about 6.30pm - I took the internal roads of Bangsar to get from Jalan Riong to Jalan Pantai Baru. It was pouring cats and dogs then, and I witnessed an amazing sight - waterfalls along the roads like Jalan Riong, Jalan Tanduk, Jalan Kurau, Jalan Bilis and Jalan Tempinis Kanan. Water was springing out of drains like up-side-down waterfalls. Evidently, the drainage is not competent to handle such voluminous downpours - having been designed more than half a century ago, long before massive developments sprung up in the upper reaches of the neighbourhood.

MBPJ's (Petaling Jaya City Council's) crowning glory - that retention or detention pond between Jalan 12/12 and 12/14, fills up like your beer glass being filled up with supply from a fire hose reel. At this point in time, a lot more planned and approved concrete which will augment the surface run off feeding this pseudo-reservoir, is yet to be mixed and poured. Houses on Jalan 12/14, more than 3 meters above the brim of this water channel, are still flooding.

This highlights MBPJ's typical sight on the big picture frame. They splash paint on it with idea of what image will form and fail to look at the pixels which form the lines. Yes, they have monstrous drains and littler ones to feed them, but, hey, the gullets of the minor siblings are choked and remain choked. And so we see water regurgitating like a food poisoning victim puking.

sigh... perhaps I could do a much better job than those paid jesters. No, not perhaps. I am confident.

And

Jalan Duta is the SIN of monorail works, while the area surrounding Universiti Malaya's KL gate is possibly fed by Bangsar South and the newbies of original Bangsar.

"Monorail" or Mass Rapid Transit?

Anyway, a large, concrete lined storm retention drain runs behind David's home in Section 12 Petaling Jaya and he has been hammering away at the Petaling Jaya City Council that they should have made it a swale, instead of an all concrete lined storm retention drain.

What's a swale?

Well below is an example of a swale running behind the row of houses on Jalan 14/15, Section 14, Petaling Jaya.

Basically, a swale has a concrete drain at the bottom which carries the normal volume of drain water most of the time but when the water level is especially high, it overflows the concrete drain and the water seeps into the grass covered earth on either side. The idea of such storm drains is to slow the flow of water into the river so as to prevent flash floods.

Besides being more pleasing to the eye, the grass covered earth also does not retain heat, unlike concrete and if they planted some trees along the grassy part, it would not only be even more pleasing to the eye but would also help stabilise the soil and help reduce the heat. 



The rain just got heavier again.

Well, let's see what the traffic will be like on the main roads tomorrow (Friday 13 May 2016) morning.

Hmmm! Friday the 13th.

Charles F. Moreira

I CAN IMAGINE THE HORRENDOUS TRAFFIC JAM FRIDAY (TOMORROW) MORNING

With so many cars half submerged on the roads in the flash floods this Thurdsay 12 May 2016 evening, I do not expect that they will all be cleared from the roads by Friday morning when commuters are driving to work and these are arterial roads.

So I would not be surprised if there are horrendous traffic jams Friday morning.

I guess they could develop a mobile app or a cloud-based big data analytics app which will stop flash floods dead in their tracks (just being sarcastic).

Back in the 1960s Jalan Duta (Diplomatic Road), was built with the intention that embassies would re-locate there from the Jalan Ampang and Jalan U Thant area but most embassies stayed where they are.

Free Malaysia Today reports on the flash flood on Jalan Duta a major arterial road.

Jalan Duta hit by flash floods
FMT Reporters  | May 12, 2016
Other areas in city, like Bangsar and Kerinchi, also hit by flash floods.






KUALA LUMPUR: A number of areas in the city experienced flash floods, with multiple cars and motorists stranded in the waist-high water this evening.

The Fire and Rescue Department, in a statement, said among the affected areas were Jalan Duta, heading to Damansara, and the entrance to University Malaya at Jalan Lingkungan Budi.

Around 100 vehicles were stuck in floodwaters along Jalan Duta and 15 vehicles at the entrance to Universiti Malaya.

Several fire trucks were seen at Kerinchi and Bangsar trying to help stranded motorists and reduce flooding.

Motorists took to Twitter to post pictures of the flooded streets.

“Happening now. Pls avoid Jalan Duta at all cost!” tweeted user William Lee.


“My friend posted this picture. Just 20 min ago at Jalan Duta. Avoid at all cost. Except if you have sampan. #kltu” tweeted user AbbyC.

“Standstill traffic on Jalan Duta. We haven’t moved in 10 minutes,” tweeted user Elza Irdalynna two hours ago.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/05/12/jalan-duta-hit-by-flash-floods/

Charles F. Moreira

FROM SCORCHING HEAT WITHOUT RAIN TO FLASH FLOODS

It was scorching heat in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur about two to three weeks ago with temperatures hitting 37 degrees. with no rain for 10 days, the water level in dams approaching critical levels, with fears that we would have to suffer water rationing again - all due to the especially severe El Nino effect in the Pacific Ocean this year.

Then the rains came regularly in the evenings last week and this week and today, Thursday 12th May 2016, there are flash floods on roads in Kuala Lumpur, following a prolonged downpour which is still going right now.

As they say, "When it rains, it pours".

The Star reports:-

Over 100 vehicles trapped in Klang Valley flash floods - Nation | The Star Online

by tan yi liang

Motorists stuck in the traffic after the flash floods in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim. - AZMAN GHANI / The Star


PETALING JAYA: Flash floods hit several key roads in Kuala Lumpur causing vehicles to be trapped following a downpour on Thursday evening.   

In a series of photos posted on Twitter by Bernama, four roads were affected as of 8.48pm.  

The four roads are Jalan Pantai Bahru, Jalan Semantan, Jalan Bangsar and Jalan Pudu in front of the Tung Shin Hospital, according to photos taken from the Fire and Rescue Department.   

Additionally, in a media alert, the Fire and Rescue Department said that crews were dispatched to two locations in Kuala Lumpur after emergency calls were made by people trapped in the floods.  

It said that 20 firemen were sent at 7.26pm to a location in front of Duta Vista in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim where 100 vehicles were trapped along the road towards Damansara and Kuala Lumpur, forcing motorists to leave their vehicles.  

It added that another 13 Fire and Rescue Department personnel were sent to the Jalan Lingkungan Budi gate of Universiti Malaya at 7.58pm as 15 cars were stranded in flash floods and strong currents.   

"11 people were rescued including a woman who was having breathing difficulties," said the Fire and Rescue Department. 

The flash floods are not the first to hit the Klang Valley this week, with flooding reported in Shah Alam on Tuesday.   

According to Star Radio Traffic, the flash floods hit two locations along Persiaran Kayangan.   

The two spots were near the Concorde Hotel and the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/05/12/flash-floods-hit-klang-valley

Charles F. Moreira

BEWARE YOU DON'T END UP AT THE BOTTOM OF A SEWER SHAFT

This report carried by Free Malaysia Today about a car plunging to a sewer shaft being built on Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya caught my eye today.

Apart from ending up in a shithole, fortunately nobody died. Also, thankfully, there's no shit in the shithole just yet but I wonder what will happen if one of the concrete shithole covers gives way some years later when a car or heavy lorry drives over it. By then, the shithole would be full of sewerage and the unfortunate passengers may well not get out alive.

I saw some people standing around the construction site of one of these sewer shafts on Jalan Universiti this evening but was not quite sure what it was all about as I was rushing to get some medicine for my aunt from a pharmacy before it closed.

Be especially careful when driving along roads such as Jalan Kemajuan in Petaling Jaya at night, since the street lights are all not working along this road and sewer construction is still ongoing along this road.

If this car could have plunged into this shithole whilst it was still light, what more the likelihood when it's dark.

This sewerage reticulation system being built in Petaling Jaya and elsewhere is a Federal Government project and the sewer shafts are dug into the roads, causing much traffic disruption.

Take care

Charles

Car plunges into 12m-deep sewer
FMT Reporters  | May 3, 2016
Firemen rescue two people inside who were badly hurt in the incident in Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya.







PETALING JAYA: Two people were hurt after their car plunged into a 12-metre-deep sewer under construction in Jalan Universiti, Section 17, today.

Damansara Rescue and Fire Department station chief Ramli Harun said they received a distress call at 2pm and sent a fire engine there, Star Online reported.

Firemen found a Toyota Vios had plunged into a sewer and managed to rescue the two inside after about an hour.

Both victims were sent to the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre for treatment for multiple injuries.

A crane was used to extricate the car from the sewer.

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/05/03/car-plunges-into-12m-deep-sewer/