KUALA LUMPUR: Some 62% of flood hotspots in Kuala Lumpur have been resolved following flood mitigation efforts aimed at making the capital more sustainable.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh (pic) said the number of flood-prone locations in the city had fallen from 37 to 14 since 2020.
“As of this year, it is down to 14 locations, which represents an overall 62% reduction in flood hotspots.
“But this is not enough. It simply means that 14 locations remain at risk of flooding every time it rains,” she said during the launch of Kuala Lumpur Sustainability Week (KLSW) yesterday.
She noted that strengthening flood mitigation measures was one of two priorities that Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Federal Territories Department were focusing on to improve sustainability in the city.
In addition, she said maintaining green spaces was also part of a broader review of development and spending priorities.
She noted that investments in infrastructure and heritage preservation in the city would not be sustainable without adequate flood mitigation measures.
She cited the ongoing conservation of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building as an example, noting that efforts to preserve the heritage structure would be meaningless if the area were constantly affected by flooding.
Yeoh said sustainability is not solely confined to environmental protection but also encompasses social systems, governance processes and long-term planning.
She said one of the biggest challenges is ensuring that public assets and infrastructure are properly maintained long after they are built.
“If you look at buildings, infrastructure or even our parks 20 or 30 years down the road, you will see structures that deteriorate within three to five years due to weather conditions.
“If there is no plan to sustain and maintain them, it will all go to waste,” she added.
As such, she said government spending priorities are crucial, particularly given limited public funds.
“Green spaces are among the priorities being pursued in Kuala Lumpur because they are generally less costly to maintain when planned properly.
“On flood mitigation, we are looking at gazetting the remaining retention ponds in the city while expanding the use of on-site retention ponds,” she said.
The city currently has nine retention ponds, with two more being built in parks and three additional locations identified, she added.
KLSW is jointly organised by The Exchange TRX and EcoKnights and aims to inspire sustainable lifestyles, encourage community participation and foster collaboration among stakeholders, educational institutions and civil society organisations.
To support such efforts, Yeoh announced a RM20,000 grant for EcoKnights to help expand its volunteer-driven public education initiatives.
