The Sungai Bunus flood retention pond is crucial for flood mitigation in Kuala Lumpur. Yet, there is now a proposal to de-gazette the land. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
IT has been barely four years since Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land Executive Committee (JKTWPKL) officially gazetted land around Sungai Bunus flood retention pond, designating it as an impounding reservoir.
The decision was aimed at reinforcing the city’s defences against the persistent threat of flooding which has plagued Kuala Lumpur.
Yet, in an unexpected twist, the same authorities are now poised to reverse this decision.
On Dec 27, 2023, JKTWPKL issued a Federal Government Gazette for Notice of Proposed Revocation of Reservation Land for Public Use.
The move to de-gazette the land has understandably ignited a storm of objections from stakeholders and residents living in the vicinity of Sungai Bunus.
They made their voices heard during a public hearing session held from 9am to 4pm at Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office (PTGWP) yesterday.
Stakeholders attending the public hearing session at the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office. The meeting was chaired by Mohd Shukri (at head of table).
The meeting was chaired by assistant land officer in charge of reserve land, Mohd Shukri Ezainy Abdul Rahman.
“I was utterly dumbfounded upon learning about this,” said Save Kuala Lumpur (SKL) coalition chairman Datuk M. Ali.
“It is a regressive step. To gazette and then propose revocation is nonsensical.
“We staunchly oppose this,” he told StarMetro.
“We recognise the government’s authority to rescind previously gazetted lands but such an action demands compelling justification.
“The area is infamous for floods. A simple Internet search of ‘KL floods’ will reveal how frequently the landmarks around here are prone to flooding,” he added.
Kuala Lumpur Residents Action for Sustainable Development (KLRA+SD) chairman Tan Booi Charn was similarly outraged.
“We are against the (proposed) cancellation.
“The land is already serving the public as a flood retention pond; de-gazetting it for other ‘public uses’ is not only redundant but exposes it to potential risks associated with future development,” Tan said.
Local resident Habsah Ahmad, who has endured the area’s floods for years, also voiced her opposition to the proposal.
“Sungai Bunus must remain a flood retention pond indefinitely.
“Revoking the gazette opens the door to development, which is something we cannot accept,” Habsah said.
When contacted, deputy director of PTGWP (land registration sector) Mohd Firdaus Ibaruslan said the revocation of the land’s gazette was meant to amend the land status from solely “Flood Retention Pond” to “Flood Retention Pond and Open Area”.
He said this revision was aimed at standardising the classification of lands under the jurisdiction of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
He added that the purpose was not to prepare the land for sale or development but to rectify its official designation to accurately reflect its dual function as both a flood retention area and public open space.
The Sungai Bunus flood retention pond, which was gazetted on July 31, 2018, lies along Sungai Bunus – a small river coursing through Kuala Lumpur.
Historically, during heavy rains, it has channelled water into the pond to alleviate flooding.
There have been numerous occasions over the past two decades when Sungai Bunus had breached its banks, flooding key areas like Jalan Tun Razak, the National Library, Wisma Bernama and nearby streets, leading to widespread disruption in the city.
On Dec 18, 2021, Kuala Lumpur suffered serious flooding affecting many parts of the city.
Following this, several Kuala Lumpur MPs called on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police to investigate possible abuse of power after several retention ponds in the city were allegedly approved for development.
Since then, engineers and environmental experts have continued to push for the remaining ponds to be gazetted to prevent land alienation for future development.
