UNTIL and unless the Federal Government and their agencies including the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) employ a sense of urgency in the way they treat this rain, a moratorium should be slapped on all development proposals – including the proposed MRT3 project – in the Segambut constituency surrounding the 10 areas affected by flash floods for the rest of the year.
Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh said this in response to the earlier statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim urging DBKL to use existing resources to tackle the recent flash floods in Kuala Lumpur.
She was also responding to the statement by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage stating that all the flood system control infrastructures under the Federal Territory Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPSWPKL) are operating well in accordance to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Since the last flood in December 2021 we have pressured the authorities to preserve all retention ponds in Kuala Lumpur and to urgently implement measures to protect the residents from the recurrence of flash floods including the maintenance of rivers, installation of sirens in multi-languages and via SMS messages sent by the National Security Council (MKN),” Yeoh said in a statement today.
“However, four months later, all these suggestions were found wanting and slow in implementation.”
On Tuesday (April 26) a heavy downpour that started at around 3pm had left thousands stranded in flash floods around the city, bringing traffic at major roads to a standstill.
“This week, close to 10 locations were flooded namely Kampung Segambut Luar, Kampung Segambut Dalam, Kampung Masjid Segambut, Kampung Segambut Bahagia, Kampung Segambut Bahagia Tambahan, Kampung Pasir Segambut, Taman City, Kolam Air, Kampung Kasipillay and Kampung Sungai Penchala,” Yeoh pointed out.
She further pointed out that residents in affected areas suffered significant losses in the recent months with flood waters carrying thick mud sweeping through their homes and destroying their belongings.
“All responses so far by the authorities have merely mentioned using existing SOPs and resources to fight this extraordinary rainfall pattern.
“Queries were met with standard responses – ‘pending drawing of design, pending appointment of contractors or employing existing frequency in cleaning and maintenance works’. Doing the same thing expecting different results is an act of sorcery.” – April 28, 2022
