KUALA Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) corporate communications department said the council has completed flood mitigation works at 20 hotspots in the capital ahead of the monsoon season.

DBKL said it is also carrying out major long-term flood reduction projects at five other hotspots around the city. 

“The maintenance works of flood reservoirs, rivers, and main ditches are intensified especially before the monsoon season. 

“DBKL has planned and implemented various efforts to deal with flash floods around Kuala Lumpur,” the department told The Malaysian Insight. 

The flood hotspots are mainly in Segambut, Lembah Pantai, Bukit Bintang, Cheras, Batu, and Setiawangsa. 

Last week, Kuala Lumpur folk said they wanted to know the authorities’ plans to tackle possible flash floods during the monsoon.

They said it was crucial that DBKL flood mitigation plans be made public for everyone’s peace of mind.

Save Kuala Lumpur chairman M. Ali said DBKL was still not proactive enough in handling this matter, leaving city dwellers worried.

In December, Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming said DBKL had identified 25 flash flood hotspots in the capital.

He told DBKL to prioritise flood mitigation projects and drainage system maintenance.

Nga said flash floods are a chronic problem that affected Kuala Lumpur’s image.

In January, former Kuala Lumpur mayor Mahadi Che Ngah said RM67.8 million had been set aside for flood mitigation efforts, of which RM39.4 million was for the maintenance of riverbanks, pump houses, and drainage.

Another RM28.4 million was allocated for DBKL to upgrade existing drains and retention ponds, as well as to place sandbags at flood hotspots.

DBKL has also applied for an additional RM500 million from the government to implement more flood mitigation projects. 

The city council said a special committee involving various departments had been established to deal with flooding issues.

“Locations with frequent occurrences of flash floods or river overflows will be given more attention and have their existing drainage systems upgraded. 

“DBKL has also always coordinated joint actions with other agencies such as the Kuala Lumpur Irrigation and Drainage Department.”

DBKL is also using closed-circuit televisions located around the city to monitor the situation and instructions for any action will be issued from the control centre directly to members on the ground.

“This is to ensure quickness of response.

“Coordination of traffic control and early assistance at the scene is very important when flash floods occur.  It can reduce the impact of traffic congestion at critical times,” the department said.

DBKL added that silt dredging had been carried out in all reservoirs according to a set schedule.  

“There are also roadside drains that have been upgraded.

“In addition, DBKL is ready with pumps and tankers to ensure excessive surface runoff at flash flood locations do not stagnate on the road.”

As for rainwater management at construction sites, DBKL has pushed developers to ensure silt traps in construction sites are properly maintained to optimise their functionality during heavy rains.

The monsoon season is expected to begin in November and continue until March.

In recent years, the capital has endured a series of severe floods that experts said were the results of overdevelopment, deforestation, and climate change.

In December 2021, Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam, and Klang saw major floods that killed 27 people and left thousands badly affected. – September 30, 2023.