After floods, MP calls for action to clear clogged drains

 

“So much rubbish. Where did it all come from??” was the caption by Fahmi Fadzil to a video clip of the scene today opposite Dataran Maybank in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

PETALING JAYA: An MP in Kuala Lumpur has urged federal territories minister Shahidan Kassim to deploy resources to clean up and clear all clogged drains in the city in light of the flash floods this afternoon that followed heavy rain.

He also called for a flood warning system to be created with the help of telecommunications companies to alert residents about floods at their location.

Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said today’s floods were the third in Kuala Lumpur since December.

He said a lot of the problems had to do with clearing drains and their maintenance, adding that there was a lot of rubbish in certain flooded areas after the waters had receded.

“Flood ponds must be well maintained. Also, I noticed a lot of topsoil runoff, which may indicate water coming from construction sites,” he told FMT, referring to his tweet that the pond in Lorong Maarof had overflowed for the fourth time this year.

Fahmi said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) must review both maintenance of siltation systems in these sites as well as ensure that construction companies help with clean up and compensate victims should flash flooding occur.

Cars left stranded by flooding in Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Kuala Lumpur, today. (Bernama pic)

He also said there was no flood warning, pointing out that he found out about the flood on social media.

He said Pandan MP Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had also phoned him to say the home of one of her relatives was flooded.

Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun said it was high time for DBKL to look into the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 by including upgrades to the drains in the city as the drainage system has been around for 30 to 40 years.

“There needs to be a master plan to cope with the heavy downfall. Most of the drains have been clogged and regular maintenance needs to happen. DBKL should also widen the drains in Kuala Lumpur,” he told FMT.

Today, DBKL posted on Twitter that several roads were inundated by floodwaters, including Jalan Pudu, Jalan Kuching and Jalan Ampang.

In a statement, DBKL also confirmed reports of flooding at Jalan Travers, Jalan Sultan Abdul Halim, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Semantan, Pintasan Segambut, Jalan Segambut, Jalan Kinabalu (Bulatan Merdeka), Jalan Changkat Thambi Dollah, Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar, Bulatan Dato Onn and Jalan Melaka.

DBKL added that the traffic situation around Kuala Lumpur was congested as the flash floods occurred during peak hours.

It said DBKL traffic officers were deployed to immediately assist by ensuring the smooth flow of traffic in congested areas.

On March 7 and 8, several areas in Kuala Lumpur were also badly affected by flash floods following a heavy downpour. - FMT