Facility under Padang Merbok ready by 2027
SOME RM11mil has been allocated to build an underground retention pond underneath Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur to mitigate the issue of flash floods in the city.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the pond, measuring 12,000 cubic metres, was expected to be completed in March 2027.
“With the facility being underground, the field will remain.
“The allocation by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) also covers upgrades to the field,” she said in a press conference at Padang Merbok yesterday.
The new facility will complement another underground pond at Taman Botani Perdana, which is nearly double the size.
In its social media post, DBKL said the Taman Botani Perdana retention pond was designed to store excess rainwater and reduce the risk of flash floods around the Sultan Iskandar Highway (formerly known as the Mahameru Highway) and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim (formerly Jalan Duta).
“It can hold up to 23,000cu m of excess water during heavy rainfall.
“The retention pond at Padang Merbok will cover the areas of Jalan Salahuddin, Bulatan Datuk Onn, Jalan Tun Ismail, Jalan Parlimen and Jalan Berjasa,” DBKL said.
Yeoh also announced that Padang Merbok, fenced up since 2022, has reopened to the public.
DBKL removed the fence installed at the field’s perimeter on Jan 14.
“The field was fenced up around August 2022 under the previous Perikatan Nasional administration, following a protest held there.
“The Madani government is correcting what was wrong, by returning Padang Merbok to the public,” she said during a site visit to the field.
In 2022, StarMetro had reported that Yeoh and Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil protested over the fencing up of the field.
DBKL was quoted then as saying that the fencing was to facilitate field upgrades.
Yeoh said DBKL now planned to instal a big screen so that families could enjoy their time at the park.
“We will work with National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) to show local films,” she added.
Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Fadlun Mak Ujud said the big screen would be an additional expense beyond the allocation.
“Our target is to put it up in the second quarter of this year,” he said.
Fahmi, who was also present at the press conference, said Kuala Lumpur MPs would ensure the city has more open spaces for public and recreational use at little to no cost.
“We could hold public screenings like ‘Starlight Cinema’ where the public can enjoy films,” said Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister.
Padang Merbok, Yeoh said, could also be a safe place for the public to hand over memorandums to the MPs.
“Currently, the location where groups submit memorandums is by the roadside, which is quite dangerous,” she added.
