Kuala Lumpur has been hit by a spate of flash floods in recent months. — Filepic
DBKL command centre on alert for monsoon, with plans to future-proof city
BRACING for a wet season, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is ramping up flood defences as the north-east monsoon and looming La Nina threaten heavier rain.
It is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy to keep the city flood-free, combining rapid-response teams, real-time monitoring, and drainage upgrades.
“We have formed the Kuala Lumpur Public Incident Management Committee, comprising 350 staff from different departments.
“The team works around the clock in shifts, supported by vehicles and gear so help can be dispatched immediately when incidents occur,” a spokesperson told StarMetro.
DBKL’s Kuala Lumpur Command and Control Centre (KLCCC) serves as the city’s nerve centre, where officers monitor river levels, watch live feeds and receive real-time updates from partner agencies to spot trouble early.
A total of 30 water-level sensors have been installed in flood-prone areas and main drains, which send early warnings when levels rise, giving teams time to act quickly and reduce the impact of flash floods, the spokesperson said.
“To speed up drainage, we will deploy mobile pumps and suction trucks to clear stagnant water from roads and low-lying areas.
“Quick deployment helps reopen routes faster and minimise disruption to traffic and nearby homes when heavy rains hit.”
DBKL is also conducting regular maintenance to keep the city’s drainage network in good condition, from flood retention ponds and underground tanks to rivers and roadside drains.
“Desilting parts of Sungai Toba in Segambut and the Universiti Malaya retention pond is now done monthly instead of once every three months.
“We are also widening roadside drain inlets and increasing capacity so that water can flow faster, reducing the risk of flash floods,” said DBKL’s spokesperson.
The city operates 36 flood-control pump houses, each with pumps, diesel generators, closed-circuit TV cameras and water-level sensors, with three more expected by 2026.
The generators ensure operations continue even during power cuts.
“We can’t afford for these systems to fail when the city needs them most.
“That is why we have appointed four maintenance contractors for daily and preventive repairs.
“Our 12 staff monitor operations every day across three key zones – central, northern and southern – to keep the network in peak condition,” DBKL stated.
Trees were also being pruned in all constituencies to keep the public safe, the spokesperson said, adding: “Overgrown or unstable trees can become dangerous when strong winds and heavy rains hit.”
DBKL’s flood-prevention efforts extend beyond its own departments, through partnerships with the Civil Defence Force, police, SWCorp, Alam Flora and Kuala Lumpur Drainage and Irrigation (DID) Department.
“When heavy rains hit, no single agency can work alone.
“By working hand in hand, we can respond faster and more effectively at flood-prone spots,” said the spokesperson.
Meanwhile, DBKL has lined up 40 flood mitigation projects for the capital city.
Of 12 projects slated for 2024/2025, 10 have been completed while the other two are set to finish by end-2025.
Another eight are in progress.
The remaining 20 fall under long-term planning, and will be carried out in three phases.
“We have planned these works systematically so that the most urgent flood risks are addressed first, while bigger, more complex projects are delivered in stages,” said the spokesperson.
“It is about making Kuala Lumpur safer and more resilient to extreme weather over the next decade.”
