Hannah Awaits MACC Findings On Kuala Lumpur Flood Retention Pond Probe

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh is awaiting the outcome of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into flood retention pond management before deciding on further action.

She said the report was lodged in 2021 while she was in the opposition, but she has yet to receive any feedback.

“Before we became the government, we lodged a report with the MACC as opposition members. The report was filed in 2021 when massive floods struck Kuala Lumpur.

"I want to know the outcome of that investigation and need a status update from the MACC before commenting further,” she said.

She told a press conference after the launch of the Segambut Utara Railway Station by Transport Minister Anthony Loke here today.

Also present were Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud.

Hannah previously revealed that the capacity of flood retention ponds in the capital is estimated at only 30 per cent of their original size, following the shrinkage of pond areas in Jinjang and Batu due to development on 17 land lots.

She said they view the situation seriously because 70 per cent of the 17 lots were alienated to developers since 2015. This reduced the water body's capacity from its original 114.5 hectares.

Following the disclosure, former Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor denied having any knowledge regarding the transfer of flood retention pond land to developers during his tenure.

Meanwhile, Hannah said several improvements have been implemented to prevent management lapses from recurring. These include establishing a special task force involving Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to tighten technical requirements for all development projects.

-- BERNAMA