PUTRAJAYA: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has attributed the cause of severe flash floods in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to an inefficient street drainage system.
He said that as a short-term measure, the drainage waterways would have to be deepened and maintenance of the system would have to be carried more regularly.
“As a long-term measure, the drainage system for the Jalan Duta, Universiti Malaya and Bangsar areas will have to be upgraded by the relevant authorities,” he told a press conference on the floods yesterday.
The roads worst-affected by the floods in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday were Jalan Semantan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim (Jalan Duta), Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Pantai Baharu.
Wan Junaidi said he did not rule out the possibility that the flash floods in Jalan Duta were caused by the construction of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in the area.
“I may speak to them,” he said when asked whether he would discuss the matter with the MRT authorities.
He said the Department of Irrigation and Drainage had prepared an environmentally friendly drainage master plan and detailed design in accordance with the Environmentally Friendly Drainage Manual for submission to the state governments and local authorities as construction and maintenance of street drainage systems came under their jurisdiction.
Wan Junaidi advised the people against discarding refuse into the drainage systems and rivers so as to reduce the risk of flash floods and enable the systems to function at full capacity. — Bernama