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KUALA LUMPUR – The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is calling in the Federal Territories Ministry to explain its use of a RM329.33 million budget to prevent floods, which have kept recurring in the capital city, PAC chairman Wong Kah Woh said.
This follows the Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report 2021 Series 1 tabled in Parliament today, which found weaknesses in Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) implementation of short-term flood mitigation measures.
“PAC has agreed to call the Federal Territories Ministry in relation to Kuala Lumpur’s flood mitigation management plan,” Wong, the Ipoh Barat MP said in a statement.
At a press conference separately, Wong also said that PAC would summon the minister, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, and ministry secretary-general Rosida Jaafar.
Bernama’s report of the A-G’s findings into DBKL’s flood mitigation efforts said it had not achieved its objectives under measures for the 2018-2022 period, causing flash floods to be a repeated problem.
“Flash floods keep recurring even after the implementation of flood mitigation projects.
“Furthermore, there are weaknesses in aspects of programme management including appointment of contractors, contract administration, maintenance work, and components and configurations of flood reservoirs and recreation ponds,” said the report.
The audit report covered six out of 23 of DBKL’s flood mitigation projects under the Kuala Lumpur City Rainwater Management Drainage System Master Plan.
A-G Nik Azman Nik Majid earlier today briefed the PAC on the national audit report that covered ministry and federal agency activities under eight ministries.
In recent months, Kuala Lumpur has experienced regular flash floods following heavy downpours.
The worst episode which also struck the wider Klang Valley and central parts of Malaysia was in mid-December last year, attributed to unusually heavy rain and climate change. – The Vibes, August 3, 2022
