Sashidaran Gunathevan
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye wants a sustained overhaul of Kuala Lumpur drainage. He wants it to end repeated flash floods, Bernama reported. His call follows flash floods at TTDI, Bukit Jalil and the Federal Highway earlier this month.
Lee said flash floods should not become an accepted feature of life in the city. He noted that streets now flood after only an hour or slightly more of heavy rain. “The time for decisive, coordinated and lasting action is now,” he said.
Overall, here is what Lee proposed, what City Hall said about flood hotspots in May and what drivers should watch.
What Lee Lam Thye asked for
Lee called for an audit and upgrade of the whole drainage network. In addition, he wants the Kuala Lumpur Urban Drainage Master Plan carried out. Ageing and undersized drains should be replaced.
He asked for regular maintenance, including the removal of rubbish and silt from drains, rivers and waterways. Moreover, he wants stricter enforcement at construction sites. Developers and contractors must install silt traps, sediment controls and proper drainage, he said.
Violators should face substantial penalties, including stop-work orders. In addition, Lee urged investment in flood retention ponds, underground stormwater storage, detention tanks and pumping stations. He also backed the Sponge City concept, which keeps green spaces and uses permeable surfaces.
Furthermore, Lee wants better coordination and accountability across agencies. He called for clear targets, timelines and regular public reporting. He also asked for stronger early warning and emergency response. Public funds, he said, should go to the underlying causes.
What City Hall said about hotspots in May
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) identified 14 flash flood hotspots in May. That was down from more than 30 previously. Examples named included Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar, Bulatan Datuk Onn and Jalan Tun Sambanthan.
The list came after heavy rain on 6 May. The University of Malaya rain station recorded 96.5mm in one hour. That was above the Irrigation and Drainage Department’s warning level of about 60mm over two to four hours.
Read more: Klang Valley flash floods hit TTDI, Bukit Jalil, Federal Highway
Read more: Anwar orders Sungai Buloh flood projects fast-tracked
Read more: MBPJ orders contractor to clean drains after Lembah Subang floods
Segambut Dalam, Pantai Dalam and the Bukit Jalil LRT station flooded that day. Meanwhile, DBKL said its flash flood task force deploys when rainfall passes 22mm an hour. Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud said Toba River silt removal would rise from two to six times a year.
Weather warnings are also broadcast on four radio stations at 9.30am, 12pm and 4pm. However, those measures date from May, before the current monsoon. Therefore, Lee’s call goes beyond what City Hall announced then.
What drivers and residents should watch
Meanwhile, heavy rain has hit other parts of the Klang Valley this week. Flash floods hit Puncak Alam homes and UiTM, and Selangor has since ordered all development there to stop.
In Petaling Jaya, the council ordered a contractor to clean drains after floods in Lembah Subang.
Lee’s statement gave no costs or deadlines for the works he proposed. Moreover, the report carried no response from City Hall. It named no specific drains or projects.
The northeast monsoon has set in, so more heavy rain is likely in the coming weeks. As a result, drivers should read the MetMalaysia warning and flash flood advice before they travel. Avoid low-lying roads when the rain is heavy.
In short, Lee wants a Kuala Lumpur drainage overhaul with clear targets and public reports. Watch for any reply from City Hall on his six proposals.
Maran Perianen
Amirull Salihing
CJMY
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