DBKL has taken several approaches to deal with climate change

SHAH ALAM - The Federal Territories Ministry through the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had come up with several initiatives to prepare for the effects of the increasingly extreme climate change.

Its deputy minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said ensuring preparedness in facing flood disasters and landslides has always been the ministry's focus.

As such, he said, the ministry together with DBKL have taken several approaches to provide early warning systems to overcome the natural disasters in Kuala Lumpur.

One of DBKL's initiatives, he said was to clean water channels for better water flow.

This initiative will be done in collaboration with the police, Civil Defence Force (APM), Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS), Fire and Rescue Department as well as other authorities, he added.

Most importantly, Jalaluddin said, DBKL will be monitoring flood areas through closed circuit televisions (CCTV) through the Kuala Lumpur Command Centre so that the affected areas would receive immediate assistance.

“Four thousand CCTVs are already in function across Kuala Lumpur and another 1,000 will be installed by July,” he said in response to a question from Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa) during the Parliament sitting, today.

Jalaluddin added that the temporary evacuation centres will be operating as usual especially in the high-risk places.

In dealing with landslide incidents, he said DBKL will be working to clear the debris at the sites.

He added that monitoring of flood-prone areas will be increased to five to seven times a week.