Haphazard laying of water pipes in a stretch of drains in Jalan Khoo Teik Ee, Imbi in Kuala Lumpur. — ONG SOON HIN/The Star
OWNERS of commercial units or shops in Kuala Lumpur who instal water pipes in drains outside their premises will be held responsible for flash floods in the city centre.
This is because such water pipes or any form of utility cables laid inside drains are illegal and can affect the capacity of the drains to hold rainwater.
“Rubbish can also get stuck in the polypipes and cables which obstruct rainwater from flowing,” said Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) Federal Territories director Ummi Kalthum Shuib.
She said premises owners normally took the easy way out and allowed their plumbers to instal the pipes in the drains.
“These owners should be accountable for the offence,” she said, adding that they were in violation of the Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.
Air Selangor acting director and operations head Kelvin Siew Weng Hoe stressed that pipes and polypipes laid inside drains were not done by Air Selangor.
Ummi Kalthum says rubbish stuck in pipes and cables can obstruct rainwater from flowing.
“Our responsibility is only for the water meter.
“Anything else is the responsibility of the consumer.
“If you see pipes inside drains and jutting out and connecting to the second floor, it is usually work done by an independent plumber,” he said.
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) enforcement division senior director Kirupakaran Visuvalingam concurred with Siew.
Kirupakaran said pipe-laying works must be done by a SPAN-certified plumber.
“Technical requirements must be adhered to.
“Pipe-laying works cannot be done in a haphazard manner.
Kirupakaran says only SPAN-certified plumbers and contractors can instal pipes.
“When it comes to plumbing and pipe-laying works, it is always a bad idea to cut corners,” he said, adding that it was one area of construction that people tended to take for granted.
On action against errant premises owners, Kirupakaran said SPAN’s enforcement division had not received any feedback from the local authorities on the matter.
“This issue has never been raised with our department.
“But if the authorities like Kuala Lumpur City Hall bring it up with us, we will call the permit holder (plumber responsible) for investigation.
“SPAN-certified plumbers will not do such shoddy work,” he assured.
A check by StarMetro in various parts of the city found rampant illegal installation of pipes in drains in Bukit Bintang, Cheras, Seputeh and Kepong.
