Minister Brings Mps On Tour Of Flood Hotspots In Kl

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Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim brought a group of Kuala Lumpur parliamentarians to visit the short-term flood mitigation projects in the capital city yesterday evening.
They went to four hotspots - Jalan Ampang, Jalan Rahmat, Jalan Kasipillay, and Jalan Dutamas - at around 5pm. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officers also joined the 90-minute trip.
Yesterday’s trip came about after DAP’s Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng questioned why the minister went silent after an initial invitation on June 5.
The Kuala Lumpur MPs who attended included those from the opposition bloc, such as DAP lawmakers Teresa Kok (Seputeh), Fong Kui Lun (Bukit Bintang), and Lim, as well as PKR’s Tan Yee Kew (Wangsa Maju) and Fahmi Fadzil (Lembah Pantai).
The group took a shuttle bus from the DBKL building and Shahidan, as well as DBKL officers, explained to them how the interim flood control measures work at each stop.
FT Minister Shahidan Kassim (wearing cap) leading MPs on a visit to check out flood mitigation projects in Kuala LumpurThose measures included placing sandbags as temporary flood walls and the installation of water pumps to ensure a smooth diversion of water into rivers when it rains.
Tents were set up at the four stops with DBKL staff on duty. Workers were seen clearing silt traps during the visit.
DBKL had announced plans to place its staff at 25 hotspots in the city to act as first responders in case of flash floods.
Each team will comprise 10 officers working in two shifts daily, from 8am to 10pm, to coordinate short-term flood mitigation measures.
During the trip, the MPs suggested the KL authorities deepen the drains and rivers.
Underground reservoir pool
At a press conference after the visit, Shahidan said the government planned to build an underground reservoir pool within three to four years as a long-term flood control project.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and his cabinet have been made aware of the plan, he added.
“This is a long-term plan. We give a timeframe between three and four years. But now we can also apply short-term and medium-term plans.
“Although the thing (underground reservoir pool) uses high technology, some countries have already implemented it, such as China (in Shanghai), Korea, Japan, and Thailand (in Bangkok),” Shahidan said.
However, the minister could not reveal the cost of the project yet and refused to disclose its location.
“The location need not be mentioned now as it would give rise to speculation.
“But in Japan and many other countries, they do it under the road… so we have to do it where there are no buildings, no utilities disruption, it would be easier,” the Arau MP said.
Smart lamp poles
On a separate note, the minister said DBKL did not bear the cost of the smart lamp poles project announced recently but will receive rent from it after the project is done.
“DBKL never built any dual function lamp pole. Those were built by (private) companies and co-funded by telco companies.
“They build, they manage payments, they appoint sub-contractors and so on. But DBKL will receive rent, they (the companies) pay rent in the form of RM850 per pillar per month.
“So far, I was told that a thousand land poles have been built by 29 companies that have been given permission by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission,” Shahidan said.
“DBKL only allows the place to be used but they have to pay rent every month,” he added.
Last Sunday, DBKL denied appointing Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad (SCIB) to replace 200 lamp posts in the Klang Valley as claimed.
The denial came in the wake of reports that a contract worth RM30.75 million was awarded to the Sarawak-based precast concrete product maker for the project.
SCIB later clarified that its unit SCIB Properties Sdn Bhd (SCIBP) was appointed as a sub-contractor by Ennova Sdn Bhd in connection with the Integrated Smart Lamp Pole Replacement project for DBKL.
The public-listed company said Ennova was to bear all construction costs of the poles, including the rental of each erected pole in accordance with the agreed rental price between it and DBKL. - Mkini

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