Kuala Lumpur's flood retention ponds in Jinjang and Batu have shrunk to about 30% of their original capacity after 17 land lots were transferred or alienated to developers since 2015, according to reports disclosed on May 12, 2026. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh said the situation was serious and warned that development should not continue if it compromises the function of flood retention ponds. She said, "We cannot continue allowing development on flood retention ponds," and added that the government cannot allow development that weakens their role in flood control. [1, 2, 4]
A technical assessment by the Irrigation and Drainage Department found the reduction had affected the ponds' original function and made maintenance work and machinery access difficult. The department's findings were part of the basis for the latest government response to the issue. [1, 2, 3]
Kuala Lumpur City Hall, or DBKL, said it will not approve planning permission for development applications on flood retention pond land until conditions set by the Drainage and Irrigation Department are fully met. The decision places the department's technical requirements at the centre of any future applications on the affected sites. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Federal Territories Department has also set up a special task force chaired by its director-general to coordinate agencies on flood mitigation in Kuala Lumpur. The group is expected to work through the related flood management issues already identified in the city. [1, 2, 3]
Yeoh said the government must prioritise public safety and the interests of city residents, even if that requires firm decisions to fix long-standing problems. The latest administrative steps mean any development plans on the pond land now face scrutiny before approval can proceed. [2, 4]
