The Johor government will provide an additional RM30 million next year to speed up flood mitigation measures in Johor Bahru after heavy rain triggered flash floods across several parts of the state capital.
The additional funding will supplement about RM48 million already allocated for flood-related projects in 2027. Authorities said the extra allocation is intended to address urgent issues not covered by the existing programme and accelerate short- and medium-term measures.
Several parts of Johor Bahru were inundated on Sept. 30 after hours of heavy rain, affecting roads and communities including Jalan Ayer Molek, Jalan Yahya Awal, Jalan Pantai, Jalan Wong Ah Fook and areas around Kampung Pasir in Tampoi. Floodwaters also disrupted traffic, with some vehicles becoming stranded before conditions began improving later in the evening.
The new measures will focus on improving the city’s drainage and water-retention capacity. A detailed assessment of Johor Bahru’s drainage network will be carried out by specialist consultants, with the findings aligned with a wider district-level study by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage.
Authorities also plan to build underground water-retention facilities, including an On-Site Detention system in the Jalan Sungai Chat area. The system would use underground concrete tanks to temporarily store excess rainwater, allowing the surface area to continue serving other purposes such as a playing field or car park.
Pumping capacity will also be increased to help move excess water toward the Johor Strait during periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall. Mobile pumps will be deployed to flood-prone locations, while monsoon drains are expected to be upgraded and expanded to improve the movement of stormwater.
Immediate steps include deepening the retention pond at Kampung Mohd Amin and lowering water levels in existing ponds in areas such as Taman Merdeka and Sungai Chat before periods of heavy rain. Officials said these measures are intended to create additional storage capacity for sudden increases in runoff.
The latest flooding highlighted the pressure faced by the city’s existing drainage system. Officials said about RM100 million had already been spent on flood mitigation works in recent years, including drainage upgrades, additional pumps and other infrastructure.
The Sept. 30 rainfall was particularly intense, with around 90 millimetres recorded between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and rainfall reaching about 60 millimetres per hour at its peak. A high tide of around 3.5 metres also reduced the ability of drainage channels to discharge water by gravity, contributing to the flooding.
The city has also increased pumping capacity, with the number of pumps being expanded from four to eight units to help discharge water toward the Johor Strait. Authorities said the effectiveness of the system will continue to be assessed based on actual water flow and operating conditions.
A dedicated flood task force involving the city council, drainage authorities, public works officials and the district administration will meet weekly to monitor the implementation of the measures.
The additional funding comes as Johor Bahru continues to face the challenge of managing increasingly intense rainfall while balancing limited urban space for conventional retention ponds. Officials are now turning to a combination of underground storage, stronger pumping systems and expanded drainage infrastructure to improve the city’s ability to respond to sudden flooding.
