DBKL teams stationed at 25 flood hotspots

Kuala Lumpur has been hit by a spate of flash floods in recent months. DBKL has unveiled short-term measures worth RM10mil to tackle the problem. – Filepic

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has placed its personnel at 25 hotspots in the city to act as first responders in case of flash floods.

Each team comprises 10 officers who work in two shifts daily, from 8am to 10pm, to coordinate short-term mitigation measures.

A DBKL spokesperson said the teams would work with the Civil Defence Department to ensure unobstructed water flow in the flood-prone areas.

“Among their tasks is to clear scupper drains and act as the person in charge in the event of a flood,” he told StarMetro.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, when met during a press conference in Jalan Kepong Baru, however, questioned if the effort by DBKL was an effective use of manpower.

He called for Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim to meet with local MPs and discuss a long-term flood mitigation strategy.

“I have contacted Shahidan and was told that sandbags would be placed in flood-prone areas as an immediate mitigation measure.

“He also said that an underground tunnel would be built to accommodate excess water during flash floods.

“He even invited KL MPs to visit the flood hotspots last week but we have not heard any word from him since then,” he said.

Lim also called on the authorities to step up short-term measures to clean up drains and deepen rivers to tackle flooding issues.

He proposed that the ministry and DBKL engage a consultant to identify long-term plans to deal with floods.

The ministry and DBKL have come under fire from the public following a spate of flash floods in recent months.

On May 9, DBKL unveiled short-term measures worth RM10mil to tackle flash floods in the city centre.

These included upgrading scupper drains, placing sandbags along riverbanks, desilting retention ponds and building new sump pumps.