The government will spend RM100 million on flood prevention measures in the capital Kuala Lumpur after a deluge left parts of the city submerged.

Constant rainfall late Sunday saw two rivers breaking their banks, while drains overflowed and inundated low-lying roads, homes and buildings.

An irate Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ordered the speedy implementation of flood prevention measures after the flooding, and reports Thursday said the cabinet had approved RM100 million for that purpose.

"We hope the measures will help minimise flash floods in the city," Zulhasnan Rafique, Minister for the Federal Territories - where Kuala Lumpur is located - was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times .

Zulhasnan said the money would be spent on pumps and 10 additional flood retention ponds planned for the city - the construction of which had stalled over a lack of money.

"The sites for the 10 were identified some time ago but work could not start due to a lack of funds," Zulhasnan was quoted as saying in the Star daily.

"Due to the recent flash floods in the city centre, the cabinet decided that work on the remaining ponds had to be expedited and approved the allocation quickly," he said.

The floodwaters had receded by early Monday morning, but besieged shopkeepers and homeowners have since struggled to clean up and have called on authorities to prevent a recurrence of flooding.