{
  "id": 18890334,
  "title": "KL needs drainage overhaul to tackle recurring flash floods, says Lee Lam Thye",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/kl-needs-drainage-overhaul-to-tackle-recurring-flash-floods-says-lee",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T07:27:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1573329/kl-needs-drainage-overhaul-tackle-recurring-flash-floods-says-lee-lam"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kuala Lumpur requires a major upgrade to its drainage system to combat frequent flash floods, according to Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community. The recurring flooding, caused by just an hour of heavy rain, disrupts traffic, damages properties, affects businesses, and endangers lives. Lee outlined six key measures: conducting a comprehensive audit of the city's drainage network, enforcing stricter regulations on developers, adopting the Sponge City concept, expanding flood retention ponds, building underground stormwater storage facilities, and incorporating sustainable urban drainage solutions into new developments. He emphasized the need for aging, undersized drains to be upgraded and a review of the Kuala Lumpur Urban Drainage Master Plan. Lee stressed that clearing rubbish, removing silt, and ensuring unobstructed water flow must become ongoing responsibilities of authorities. Developers must install and maintain adequate silt traps, sediment-control measures, and proper drainage systems, facing substantial penalties for non-compliance. The Sponge City concept calls for green spaces, permeable surfaces, and sustainable urban drainage in new developments. Lee also stressed stronger coordination among Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and other agencies, with clear implementation targets, timelines, and public updates on flood mitigation projects. He called for stronger early warning systems, emergency response arrangements, and a shift from a reactive to a preventive, long-term strategy. Kuala Lumpur residents deserve a capital city with reliable infrastructure, and Lee highlighted the need to make the city flood-resilient with the goal of eliminating preventable flood-related deaths and minimizing flood incidents and damage.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur needs a comprehensive overhaul of its drainage system to address recurring flash floods triggered by as little as an hour of heavy rain.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}