KL and Selangor Join Forces on Five-Point Flood Plan
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor are joining forces to tackle the Klang Valley's flood problems, with a five-point action plan that includes reviewing dam capacity, building new retention ponds, and dredging rivers. The move comes as both administrations seek to better manage water flowing from Hulu Selangor through Kuala Lumpur and towards the southern parts of the Klang Valley, where heavy rain can quickly turn into flooding.
In a joint statement on Sunday (Aug 23), Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari and Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said the two administrations had reached a consensus on land management, water storage, green spaces, sustainable urban development and water flow.
"Selangor and Kuala Lumpur must join forces to manage water drainage from the Hulu Selangor area which flows through Kuala Lumpur and onward to the southern localities," they said.
Key Measures and Timelines
A technical task force will meet within two weeks to finalise project locations, costs, funding and implementation, with initial proposals to be ready before the next Parliamentary sitting and the tabling of Budget 2027.
One of the key initiatives is a long-term study of Batu Dam and Klang Gate Dam to determine whether their current capacity can meet water management needs over the next 20 to 30 years.
Technical agencies will also identify suitable upstream sites in Selangor for new flood retention ponds, taking into account engineering feasibility, land status, environmental impact and flood reduction potential.
In addition, the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage will identify three existing ponds that could be enlarged – Kampung Laksamana Pond, Sungai Kertas Pond and the pond at Bukit Lagong. The Bukit Lagong site could prove more complicated, however, as it sits within a forest reserve and would have to be de-gazetted if the land is used for the proposed flood-retention expansion.
Dredging and Disposal
The fifth measure involves synchronising river dredging and desilting works across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, including identifying a dedicated 12.1ha disposal site in Selangor for dredged sediment. The Kuala Lumpur Department of Irrigation and Drainage is also tasked with helping find a suitable site for disposal, which must meet technical and land requirements, and consider sediment management and environmental impact.
Significance and Next Steps
The joint push highlights the scale of the challenge: Selangor and KL account for 41.7% of Malaysia's economy and are home to about three in 10 Malaysians. The administrations said the priorities of both governments are to reduce flood risk, strengthen urban resilience and ease the concerns of residents during the rainy season. They added that flood management, urban development and the protection of green spaces must be planned together.
Regular meetings will be held to ensure the measures are detailed before the next parliamentary session and Budget 2027.