A REPORT by an independent licensed consultant appointed by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on two flood retention ponds has been submitted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on January 31 this year, Jalaluddin Alias said.

The deputy federal territories minister said the report was submitted following MACC’s directive asking DBKL to appoint an independent consultant on development projects involving flood retention ponds at Taman Wahyu and Kolam Delima.

“MACC is currently investigating the matter, and the Federal Territories Ministry cannot issue any statement as it could disrupt the probe.

“However, as instructed by MACC, DBKL has appointed an independent licensed surveyor consultant to check and confirm whether the development carried out by the developer, Lake City North KL Sdn Bhd, is within its ownership boundaries and does not enter the two flood reservoirs,” Jalaluddin told Parliament today. 

Jalaluddin was responding to a question from Hannah Yeoh (Segambut-PH) who asked the government to state the status and latest details of development plans for six flood reservoirs in Kuala Lumpur.

Jalaluddin emphasised that only two out of the six ponds were given planning approval. 

“That also involves the area on the edge of the pond. The remaining four ponds have no planning permission given,” he said.

Answering Yeoh’s additional question on whether the government has identified the location of additional reservoir ponds in Kuala Lumpur, the deputy minister said there were eight additional underground ponds that have been operating since 2016.

“There is another under construction involving an underground reservoir pond, namely at the Perdana Botanical Garden which is expected to be completed next August.

“With the construction of this additional pond, the ministry and the government hope that it help a little to prevent floods in Kuala Lumpur,” he said. – March 16, 2022.