One Bukit Changgang flood bank project ready next week, months ahead of January 2027 target, says Irrigation Dept

One of two flood bank strengthening sites in Kampung Rancangan Tanah Belia Bukit Changgang here is 80 per cent complete and is expected to be finished next week, ahead of its original January 2027 deadline. — Bernama pic

First Published: Sunday, 01 Nov 2026 11:11 AM MYT

SEPANG, Nov 1 — One of two flood bank strengthening sites in Kampung Rancangan Tanah Belia (RTB) Bukit Changgang here is 80 per cent complete and is expected to be finished next week, ahead of its original January 2027 deadline.

The project, undertaken by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), uses the Schematic Precast System (SPS) to reinforce an existing earth embankment that is frequently eroded by strong currents in Sungai Langat.

Universal Precast System project engineer Luqman Hakim Omar said work on the project, which began on September 23, was in its final phase, with the remaining 20 per cent, including concreting, expected to be completed by this weekend before the site is handed over to JPS next week.

“We aim to complete the project quickly before the monsoon season, as stipulated by JPS, to help protect residents,” he told Bernama during a recent site visit.

He said the six-metre-high structure comprised four concrete panels, each 1.5 metres high, and was expected to withstand overflowing river water and help prevent it from entering the village, given that the danger level for Langat River was around 4.9 metres.

Luqman said an analysis had identified the soil at the site as relatively weak due to its mixture with waste, making it one of the locations most at risk of embankment failure.

“The SPS method reinforces the embankment by compacting the soil enclosed by concrete panels and lined with geotextile and geogrid, ensuring strong interaction between the soil and panels so that the structure remains stable even without piles beneath it,” he said.

Meanwhile, RTB Bukit Changgang village head Ahmad Fuad Alias said residents were grateful for the project and hoped it would prevent further embankment breaches and flooding, which had repeatedly damaged their property and disrupted their lives.

“Residents are tired of dealing with property damage, buying new furniture and having to clean their homes repeatedly.

“Although some residents initially questioned the strength of the new technology because it does not use piles, we were satisfied after the engineers explained it to us. We hope the structure can withstand the water and prevent further flooding,” he said.

The RTB Bukit Changgang settlement and surrounding areas have frequently experienced prolonged flooding when rivers overflow or embankments breach, including during the major floods in December 2021 and several flood incidents in 2022 and 2023.

In late June, unusually heavy rain in the upper Langat River Basin caused water levels to rise sharply, resulting in an earth embankment breach in the village that affected about 3,000 residents.

To address the problem, the Selangor state government allocated RM7 million for repairs and embankment strengthening works at the two sites using SPS technology, with the overall project scheduled for completion in January next year.

The 2026/2027 North-east Monsoon (MTL) was forecast to begin on October 27 and continue until March next year.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said three to five episodes of continuous heavy rain were expected to affect the country during the initial phase of the monsoon, from November to January. — Bernama