Is DBKL busy approving highrise buildings without managing floods, ask MP

SHAH ALAM - Frequent flash floods in the capital city have caused an opposition MP to ask if Kuala Lumpur City Hall has any plans to mitigate floods. DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok said there could be more downpour due to climate change but "it also shows the city is not ready to cope with flash floods." "City Hall is busy approving highrise buildings, one after another, but it is yet to address the flash flood and drainage problems," she told Sinar Daily. She asked the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and City Hall to explain to the public the reasons for frequent flooding. This comes after flash floods in the city which saw major streets clogged with vehicles on April 25. Last month, several parts of the capital city flooded with hundreds of cars submerged in water. In December last year, the country saw the worst floods in recent times with six states affected after two days of heavy downpour. The Seputeh MP further said Klang river needs to be cleaned and the river bed needs to be deepened immediately. "I would like to urge the government to give special allocation to address the drainage and klang river problem," she added.

water rising at Jalan Kuching, Kuala Lumpur After the flash floods on April 25, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in tweet said the fire department assisted those trapped in rising water. Environment and Water Minister Tuan Man Tuan Ibrahim said there are mitigation plans for the upper part of Klang Valley costing RM44 million. There are flood mitigation programmes for flood-prone Bunus river in Kuala Lumpur, costing the government RM300 million. Tuan Man further briefly said another RM22 mil will be channeled towards the remodeling of Batu Dam.