Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Social

environment

floods

pollution

The Ocean Cleanup

Klang River

distubring

recycle

disruption

What was intended as a major flood mitigation and river restoration project has turned into an unsettling revelation of hidden tragedies and deep-seated pollution. Over a dozen human bodies, including that of a baby, have been discovered as part of the Klang River Flood Mitigation Project, carried out under the Selangor Maritime Gateway (SMG) initiative.
These revelations have stunned both the project team and the public, offering a stark reminder of the environmental and societal challenges that lurk beneath Malaysia&rsquo;s most urbanised waterways.
Bodies Found Amid River Dredging
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/7a466ee71240db133338f00fafcc5f453d1e309605d4c89a040b4354693a919c" />
According to Landasan Lumayan Sdn Bhd (LLSB) managing director Syaiful Azmen Nordin, the discovery of human remains has not been an isolated incident, but a grimly recurring reality since works began on 1 November 2022. The project, which includes dredging and widening the river to reduce the risk of flooding, has exposed more than ten bodies, with some weeks witnessing back-to-back discoveries.
&ldquo;To date, we&rsquo;ve handed over more than 10 bodies to the police and fire department for further investigation,&rdquo; Syaiful revealed during a press visit to Zone 8 of the project in Kota Kemuning on 16 June.
He described the emotional impact of the discoveries on workers, noting that the infant body was particularly distressing. &ldquo;There was even a point where we found three bodies in three consecutive days,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;These are not the kinds of findings you prepare for in civil engineering.&rdquo;
Unprecedented Pollution: Fridges, Sofas and Motorcycles in the Riverbed
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/2680fc8173041d6b244d9537a60d60c6d01841b2fc2836ba36e1a69e1ccbdf5a" />
Beyond the haunting discovery of bodies, the flood mitigation teams have also encountered shocking levels of river pollution. As workers excavated sediment and debris, they pulled out massive items such as refrigerators, lorry tyres, mattresses, bedframes, sofas, and even motorcycles from the bottom of the Klang River.
&ldquo;I honestly don&rsquo;t understand how an entire refrigerator ends up in a river,&rdquo; Syaiful said, baffled by the sheer scale of illegal dumping. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just one or two isolated items&mdash;this has clearly been going on for a long time.&rdquo;
The level of pollution has made dredging efforts significantly more complex. To date, more than 918,936 cubic metres of waste material&mdash;including sediment, solid waste, and rocks&mdash;have been removed from the river as part of the ongoing restoration effort.
Additionally, LLSB records show that since 2016, a total of 94,000 metric tonnes of floating waste have been collected from the river&rsquo;s surface&mdash;highlighting both past neglect and the present urgency of clean-up operations.
Holistic Approach to River Restoration
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/e8b5ea929eba289f559b175424fd3a9347aec62e9d4e750afd1b6e116c4fe1ee" />
The Klang River Flood Mitigation Project is part of a broader, long-term plan under the SMG framework to address flood risks while restoring the Klang River&rsquo;s ecosystem and turning it into a sustainable water resource. The initiative aims to expand the river&rsquo;s flow capacity by up to 40% and improve water quality to at least Class III on the Water Quality Index (WQI), allowing for future treatment into potable water.
Current works focus on Zones 6, 7, and 8 in Shah Alam, covering areas identified as flood-prone, including Alam Impian, Section 24, Section 17, and Kota Kemuning. The project includes widening the river from 50&ndash;60 metres to 80&ndash;100 metres, strengthening embankments with flood walls, geo bags, sheet piles, and introducing earth bunds for structural resilience.
The initiative also supports the Shah Alam Sustainable Urban Drainage (SASUD) programme and the development of a water treatment plant at Sungai Rasau, aligning efforts to ensure Klang River becomes a future source of raw water supply for Selangor.
Minimal Community Disruption Promised
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/d0d0a1ae20b43d07f3e588aed0f6714c9d544fb41d3386fff1d8408977a4706b" />
Despite the scale of the project, LLSB has assured the public that community disruption has been kept to a minimum. Measures have been taken to mitigate dust, noise, and traffic disturbances, including the provision of alternative routes, noise monitoring, and early communication with affected residents.
&ldquo;This is not just a construction site,&rdquo; said Syaiful. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a community-focused infrastructure project aimed at preventing disasters like flash floods while also creating long-term ecological value.&rdquo;
While engineering and environmental planning are progressing, Syaiful emphasised that public behaviour remains a critical challenge. He called for greater civic awareness, pointing out that many of the items dumped into the river could have been recycled or disposed of responsibly.
&ldquo;Some of these things may have washed in during floods, but not all of them. The volume is too high,&rdquo; he stressed. &ldquo;This shows a lack of civic responsibility. People must change the way they think about waste and how we treat our rivers.&rdquo;
Looking Ahead: A Cleaner, Safer Klang River
Syaiful confirmed that the flood mitigation and rehabilitation efforts will expand to other sections of the Klang River, prioritised based on flood risk assessments and population density.
He acknowledged that the project is not without its difficulties. &ldquo;Our challenges are significant&mdash;but we believe that this integrated, large-scale approach is the future of water management and flood prevention in Selangor.&rdquo;
Despite its grim revelations, the Klang River project is charting a path forward&mdash;one that not only improves urban resilience to floods but aspires to turn a polluted and neglected river into a sustainable natural asset for generations to come.
As we strive for sustainability, it's essential that Malaysians take responsibility&mdash;not only by keeping our rivers free from waste, but also by embracing proper recycling habits. These small, consistent actions can go a long way in keeping both our waterways and streets clean for future generations.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments. 
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media &amp; various cross-references for context.
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The discovery of an infant’s body left a profound emotional impact on those involved in the cleanup efforts.

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Klang River Project Uncovers Grim Truths: Bodies, Waste, And the Battle To Reclaim A River

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Scentify

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Oatside

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Rohto

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Klang River Project Uncovers Grim Truths: Bodies, Waste, And the Battle To Reclaim A River

The discovery of an infant’s body left a profound emotional impact on those involved in the cleanup efforts.

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