KUALA LUMPUR: All Variable Message System (VMS) services or LED billboards managed by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will display real-time weather conditions and warnings of potential flash floods starting tomorrow. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the proactive early warning initiative aims to ensure the city dwellers can prepare and take early action in the event of such disasters.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Zaliha announced that the initiative involves collaboration with METMalaysia (Malaysian Meteorological Department) and DID (Department of Irrigation and Drainage), beginning with the LED billboard at Menara DBKL. This statement was made during Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting in response to Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) regarding DBKL’s strategies to prevent and address flash floods in Kuala Lumpur, alongside details of development projects approved by DBKL in areas near flood retention ponds since 2014.

Additionally, Dr Zaliha m
entioned that DBKL has established the Kuala Lumpur Public Incident Management Committee in collaboration with various agencies to provide immediate assistance within 30 minutes of receiving early flood warnings or reports of flash floods in the city. The involved agencies include the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Kuala Lumpur DID.

In light of recent developments, Dr Zaliha clarified that the sinkhole incident on Jalan Masjid India on August 23 was not directly related to the flash floods in the city. As a preventive measure against such incidents, DBKL is conducting soil structure studies, monitored by a special task force since the occurrence, and the study is nearing completion.

For immediate measures, DBKL and relevant agencies are auditing the integrity of utility assets and conducting underground mapping and integrity testing in Kuala Lumpur’s Central Business District (CBD) areas. Furthermore, soil investigation works usi
ng methods such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), Mackintosh Probe (MP), Micro Gravity tests, and Ground Settlement Monitoring are being performed to detect underground voids and track soil movement.

For long-term measures, Dr Zaliha stated that DBKL will conduct soil investigations using the Deep Boring (Bore Hole) technique, supported by laboratory tests and geotechnical reports prepared by certified civil engineers for high-risk development areas.