(Selangor, 23rd) — The Selangor state government and the Federal Government, through the Federal Territories Department, have reached consensus on five key areas to alleviate flooding issues faced by Klang Valley residents.
Selangor Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Yeo Bee Yin issued a joint statement today noting that Selangor and Kuala Lumpur together contribute 41.7% of the nation’s economic output, highlighting the urgency of flood mitigation in the Klang Valley.
They agreed that Selangor and Kuala Lumpur must collaborate to manage water flow from the Ulu Selangor area through Kuala Lumpur and onto the southern regions. Consensus was achieved on land management, water storage capacity, green space protection, sustainable urban development, and drainage management policies, along with the implementation of five measures.
These five measures include both parties’ technical teams convening a follow-up meeting within two weeks to further determine project locations, scope of work, cost estimation, funding sources, and methods of execution. The preliminary plan is to be completed before it is presented at the upcoming parliamentary session and prior to the 2027 budget proposal. Both parties will also hold regular meetings to monitor progress and address related issues.
Secondly, both parties agreed to conduct studies on the water storage capacity of the Empangan Batu and Empangan Klang Gate dams to assess whether existing capacity is sufficient to meet water resource management demands for the next 20 to 30 years.
Additionally, relevant technical agencies will identify suitable locations in upstream river areas, including within Selangor, for the construction of new flood mitigation reservoirs. The assessment will cover technical feasibility, land status, impacts on the environment and local communities, and the sites’ effectiveness in reducing flood risks.
Fourthly, the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage will identify three existing reservoirs suitable for upgrades to increase water storage capacity. These reservoirs are Kolam Kampung Laksamana, Kolam Sungai Kertas, and Bukit Lagong. Among them, Bukit Lagong is located within a forest reserve, so its reserve status under gazette must first be revoked before it can be utilized as a flood mitigation reservoir.
Finally, the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage will coordinate with the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Department of Irrigation and Drainage to identify rivers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur that require dredging and silt removal.
The Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Department of Irrigation and Drainage will also assist in identifying a dedicated site of about 30 acres in Selangor for the disposal of silt produced by river dredging. The site selection will consider technical feasibility, land status, silt management methods, and potential effects on the environment and surrounding areas.
The primary goal of both governments is to reduce flood risk, strengthen urban resilience, and ease the concerns of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur residents during the rainy season; at the same time, through more forward-looking, systematic, and integrated planning, to improve the quality of life for the people.