Auditor-General's Report: DBKL's flood mitigation projects yet to achieve goals

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall's (DBKL) flood mitigation measures (2018-2022) under its master plan have yet to achieve their objectives, according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2021 Series 1.

The report noted that three projects amounting to RM27.68mil did not comply with procurement principles

The report stated that DBKL has not fully implemented the proposed short-term flood mitigation measures, with only 11.1% of 18 proposed mitigations completed, leaving the problem of flash floods in the city unresolved.

"Flash floods keep recurring even after the implementation of flood mitigation projects," said the Auditor-General in the report, where it was noted that flood management by DBKL involved flood mitigation projects and maintenance works.

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It said implementation of the projects was based on the Kuala Lumpur City Rainwater Management Drainage System Master Plan (Master Plan) and flash flood hotspots.

The report noted that the audit covered two main areas, namely programme performance and programme management, for the period from 2016 to March 2022.

Other weaknesses in programme management that needed attention include variation orders amounting to RM192,553.90 being approved after the contracts had expired.

The report also found that time extensions were approved after the expiry of contracts while records of assets or infrastructure of rivers and flood reservoirs were incomplete and not up to date.

There was no evidence to suggest the maintenance work was monitored, the report added.

The report also suggested that DBKL needed to conduct an outcome evaluation of the mitigation programme based on its standard operating procedure (SOP) in dealing with floods.

In response, DBKL said 10 new projects had been proposed this year.

"DBKL has completed two out of 18 projects and while five more will be completed this year pending the approval of additional budget," it said.