“Are flood mitigation projects in KL successful?” Kepong MP slams ministers for not taking flash floods urgently

Following the heavy rain that landed on several parts of Kuala Lumpur on Monday (25 April), key roads in the city are once again flooded.

Speaking at the Parliament on the next day (26 April), Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has called on the Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man to explain why the national capital faces recurring flash floods despite large-scale prevention efforts poured into addressing the problem.

Meanwhile, Lim also said that there has been very little public information to date on these flood mitigation projects despite the millions of ringgit allocated.

“On 25 April, the City of Kuala Lumpur has turned into the City of Mud once again, no thanks to the Ministry of Federal Territories and the Ministry of Environment and Water for its failure to address the flash flood problem.”

“Enough is enough! The December flood last year was supposed to be bad enough, but yesterday’s flood was even worse. And for this to happen within the span of less than four months, it raises concerns to KLites,” Lim said, according to Malay Mail.

Lim then said that even though heavy rains are not considered environmental disasters, but the flash floods that follow are.

Besides, he also said the flood situation will continue to worsen and residents in the city will be forced to bear the damages if development continues at the current pace.

Lim then insisted that Kuala Lumpur needs sustainable development more than more highrises.

“Every time when there is a heavy downpour for not even half an hour, KLites are already not spared of the massive floods. Their cars will have to go through a major repair. Homes will have to be cleaned up.”

“For each flood, loss of properties comes out to be in the millions,” he said.

Meanwhile, The Edge reported that 8 companies have put in separate flood mitigation proposals ranging between RM5 billion and RM15 billion to the government.

The eight proposals that were sent directly to the Prime Minister’s Office include some big names in the construction industry such as Gamuda Bhd, IJM Corp Bhd and Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd.

However, the government is reported to be evaluating all the proposals, and whether or not the project would involve tunnelling.