Yeoh: Why approve affordable homes in flood prone areas?

 

Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh today said low-income earners in Kuala Lumpur should not be put at risk of being flood victims through any proposed housing development on land originally marked as retention ponds.

Specifically, Yeoh cited proposed affordable housing projects at the Batu and Batu 4 1/2 retention ponds, two out of six sites identified in the Auditor-General's Report 2019 Series 2 last September as having been alienated for other developments.

"What is the meaning of this? Building affordable homes in flood-prone areas.

"For me, enough of giving the people who can't afford to buy (better) homes a flood-prone area," Yeoh told reporters outside the Sentul district police station.

She pointed out that even low-income earners deserve to be treated with dignity.

"Stop giving them ponds for home and when the flood happens, they are given RM1,000. That's not enough," she said, referring to the federal government's cash handout for flood victims.

Minister must explain

In calling on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to state whether the government is prepared to cancel the development projects, Yeoh said Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa, as then-federal territories minister, must also explain how the two projects were approved in August and September 2020.

Aside from the six retention ponds, there are nine other ponds around Kuala Lumpur and Yeoh said the recent massive flooding has shown flaws in the system and that residents are not prepared to face a second wave.

Earlier, Yeoh, together with Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, lodged a police report seeking an investigation into any wrongdoings in awarding the six identified projects.

"Some of the decisions made appear to go against recommendations of technical agencies," said the PKR communications director.

Reveal those responsible

He further cited technical recommendations from the Kuala Lumpur Irrigation and Drainage Department in January last year, 11 months before the massive flooding, that any change to use of the retention ponds for other development projects will not only affect its capacity, but also the overall mitigation system.

Fahmi had previously urged the government to reveal the individuals responsible to transfer ownership of the retention ponds, while Yeoh, together with Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, had called for a MACC probe.

The call came after Malaysia was hit by widespread floods in several states due to torrential downpours and was warned of a potential second wave of floods.

Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim previously claimed that the MPs had gotten their facts wrong and asked them to check their information before making such allegations. - Mkini