The Selangor government will apply to the federal government for an allocation of RM1 billion to enable the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to undertake flood alleviation works in the state.

Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the application was made because the DID was a federal government agency and only the department could construct the water retention ponds.

“The Selangor State Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) had prepared a working paper and I will submit it to the state exco (executive council) within the next two weeks,” he said at a media conference after handing out aid to victims of the Phase 1 flash flood in the Klang district in Klang today.

A total of 1,318 families in the town who were affected by the flash flood last month received aid of RM500 each from the state government.

Abdul Khalid said he had been informed by the DID that RM1 billion was needed to overcome the flood problems in Klang.

- Bernama