Dealing with developments near retention basins

Lead: The Batu retention pond in Kuala Lumpur is one of the biggest ponds used for flood mitigation in the city. - IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

MALAYSIA’S urban planning must prioritise effective stormwater management to prevent flash floods, say experts.

Wong Chee Fui, who is a specialist at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), said a key consideration in development projects was to ensure the amount of stormwater discharged was always less than pre-development levels, especially during heavy rainfall.