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KUALA LUMPUR – A group of Kuala Lumpur residents will pursue their suit against Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) for failing to answer them adequately on flood mitigation plans.
Lawyer Lim Wei Jiet, who represents the group, said on Twitter that DBKL’s Flash Flood Mitigation Action Plan 2022 did not contain enough detailed information nor did it engage the public meaningfully.
He also said the plan, published in May this year, was drafted before the auditor-general (AG) released its report on DBKL’s shortcomings in addressing floods.
“The plan was drafted before the AG’s report in August 2022. Hence, it doesn’t take into account the weaknesses identified by the AG.
“Simply put, it is an outdated plan, inadequate to deal with incoming floods in November and December.
“For the above reasons, and due to the gravity and urgency of the matter, we have no choice but to file the suit in court.
“We hope the court will compel DBKL and the Federal Territories minister to provide us the required information for the sake of all KL residents,” Lim said.
The group of residents, which include former Bar president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, had last week threatened to sue DBKL if it did not provide adequate answers on how it plans to mitigate flash floods which have been affecting the city.
In response, DBKL merely referred the group to its action plan published in May, which contains 14 interim measures costing RM10 million.
The measures were described as “urgent” pending longer-term plans which are still being reviewed.
However, finding this response unsatisfactory, Lim said the group would proceed with its suit as DBKL had not provided the requested information.
The AG’s report in August highlighted several failures by DBKL, noting that its flood action plan failed to achieve its goals and that flash floods still kept occurring.
Flooding in the capital city and in other states has dominated news headlines several times this year, with authorities often citing heavier than usual rainfall, even as environmental activists and the public raise alarm over the felt impacts of climate change and Malaysia’s apparent lack of preparedness. – The Vibes, September 25, 2022
