Yeoh: 18-year gazettement delay led to loss of flood retention pond land

Hannah Yeoh, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), informed the Dewan Rakyat that an 18-year delay in gazetting land designated for flood retention ponds in Kuala Lumpur has resulted in the loss of 32.4 hectares of land to developers. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigated the land alienation but found no grounds for prosecution, according to Yeoh.

The issue arose because the Federal Territories Land Working Committee revoked the reservation approval for the land on October 9, 2016, preventing it from being gazetted. The delay allowed developers to acquire the land, generating premiums amounting to RM214 million. Yeoh addressed this during a parliamentary session, responding to questions posed by P. Prabakaran (PH-Batu) and Roslan Hashim (PN-Kulim-Bandar Baharu).

Prabakaran inquired about the government's plan to accelerate the gazetting of flood retention ponds and the process involved. Yeoh also reported that the number of flood hotspots in Kuala Lumpur had decreased from 30 to 14 over the past three years, thanks to intensified flood mitigation efforts. These efforts include drainage maintenance, desilting works, and the construction of stormwater ponds.

In response to concerns over development approvals in flood-prone areas, City Hall has announced it will no longer grant planning permission for developments near flood retention ponds until all technical requirements are met.