Credit : Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's X
KUALA LUMPUR, November 12: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed the importance of maintaining rivers, drains and drainage systems, including retention ponds and floodgates, so that all of them work properly as Selangor tries to curb its recurring floods.
In a post shared on X on Thursday, Anwar wrote in Malay that he made the point while chairing the Special Meeting on Selangor Flood Disaster Coordination. His post ended with a reference to all the relevant agencies, and it came with four photographs of the meeting.
The meeting was held at Parliament House, according to Bernama. The photographs show Anwar seated at the head of the table beneath the Parliament Malaysia emblem, with officials around the room and maps and flood-related display boards set up on easels.
Four key actions for Selangor
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said in a Facebook statement that the meeting focused on four key actions, as reported by Bernama and The Star. The first is to strengthen the early warning system together with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia). The second is to improve disaster management coordination through the Selangor State Disaster Management Committee.
The other two actions are to resolve flash floods through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), and to study the flood management best practices of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Who attended and where the focus lies
Amirudin said the meeting was attended by state government representatives, state executive councillors, state assemblymen, district officers and relevant agencies. These included the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), the DID, the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Selangor Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU).
He said special attention was being given to flood-prone areas, particularly the Petaling and Kuala Selangor districts, which recorded 1,180 evacuees at seven temporary relief centres as of November 12, 2026.
Amirudin said he wanted every one of the actions carried out immediately, including speeding up flood mitigation work and upgrading drainage systems to reduce the risk of repeated floods. He added that the welfare of flood victims remained a priority, including the RM3,000 Selangor People’s Flood Disaster Special Aid for each eligible head of household, subject to set conditions.
“I understand the people’s anxiety, especially those who repeatedly face floods. Therefore, I want every plan translated into immediate, tangible action, not just discussions,” Amirudin said, according to Bernama.
Part of a wider flood response
The meeting follows Anwar’s visit on November 9 to a relief centre at SK Parit Mahang in Jeram, Kuala Selangor, after which he announced a special additional cash aid for eligible flood-affected households in Selangor, and directed that flood mitigation projects be accelerated. Life News Agency has previously reported that the flooding in the Jeram area was linked to water overflowing from Puncak Alam combined with high tides.
Anwar’s latest post is a short statement of priorities rather than a new announcement. It shows, however, that the federal government is pressing for routine upkeep of existing flood infrastructure, such as rivers, drains, retention ponds and floodgates, alongside new mitigation projects. Whether those assets work properly during heavy rain and high tides is likely to determine how many families return to relief centres in the weeks ahead.
Life News Agency is reporting Anwar’s remarks from his own X post, supplemented by published reports from Bernama, The Star, Malay Mail and Utusan Malaysia.
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