PARLIAMENT | Heavy rain and development activities had caused the Oct 30 flash floods on the Federal Highway, according to Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

"An investigation has been carried out on the flash floods.

“The investigation found that nearby development had blocked the drainage, as well as heavy rain," he told the Dewan Rakyat during a question-and-answer session.

Tengku Adnan pointed to development projects close to the flash flood area, Setiawangsa-Pantai Expressway and Bangsar South City. 

The 86.55mm per day rainfall on the day of flash floods, he added, was a one-off occurrence, as Kuala Lumpur usually experiences rainfall between 50 and 60mm per day.

The minister also noted that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has instructed the developer to take several measures to prevent recurrence – including upgrading existing drainage, maintaining retention ponds and increasing debris traps – failing which they will be hit with stop-work orders from the council.

"We will monitor. If they do not follow (our instruction), we will issue stop work order," he said.

Developers will also be required to prepare an environmental impact assessment report for slope projects to prevent any future occurrences of flood, landslides and erosion, he added.

They also have to build their own drainage system and retention pond to trap rainwater, he added.