RM92mil beef-up for KL flood mitigation system

Fire and Rescue Department personnel helping to remove cars trapped in flash floods that hit KL on May 12. - EPA

KUALA LUMPUR: Some RM92mil will be spent to improve the city's flash flood mitigation system after thousands were affected earlier this month.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Dr J. Loga Bala Mohan said the money will be used to replace old piping, install water pumps and build retention ponds and road diversions.

"This includes RM5mil for an integrated traffic management system to better manage traffic during flash floods," he said when replying to a question by Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai) in the Dewan Rakyat's Special Chambers Tuesday.

He said the flash floods were due to "extraordinary rainfall" which lasted two hours from 6.45pm on May 12.

"A total of 106.5mm of rainfall was recorded in two hours when the usual total is 70mm.

"The drains were unable to handle the volume of water," he added.

He said a study is being carried out to determine the cause of the flash floods, which have been attributed to development projects and clogged drains.

Asked by Nurul if Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will compensate the 105 owners whose vehicles were damaged in the incident, Dr Loga said DBKL is not responsible for losses suffered due to an "act of god".

"There is a difference between negligence and an act of god.

"In this instance, it is an act of god as the extraordinary rain is not something which DBKL can control," he said.