Future development projects to include flood mitigation

Kuala Lumpur: Flood mitigation will be a must for all future development projects in light of climate change, says Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.The Environment and Water Minister noted that at present, there were no mandatory regulations.

“With climate change being a reality, it will be mandatory for all future development projects to take into consideration flood mitigation factors including on preserving existing hydrologic assets,” he said when replying to a supplementary question raised by Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

He said the mandatory regulation would be part of the proposed Bill on climate change which was currently being developed.

He was asked whether the proposed Bill on climate change would take into account conflicts with regard to hydrologic assets between states including a possible change of government in the future.

Earlier, Tuan Ibrahim noted that the flooding in Kelantan and Terengganu had come later than usual this year.

He said both states had escaped the usual year-end flooding but were instead hit by floods in February and March.

Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim said that RM13.4mil had been set aside by his ministry to upgrade the drainage system in the Klang district as part of flood preventive measures.

This, he said, was apart from the RM2.06bil requested by the Selangor government from the Federal Government to implement flooding mitigation measures in the state.

Earlier, Charles Santiago (PH-Klang) said dirty and clogged drains were among the reasons for flooding in the district.

He added that he had submitted a request to the Works Department for a RM6mil allocation to clean up dirty drains in Klang.

Several areas in Klang were hit by the massive flooding in December last year, said to be the worst in four decades.

Between Dec 17 and 19, some 18,858 people were evacuated from their homes to 64 temporary relief centres after floods hit the Klang district following continuous rain.