PETALING JAYA, Oct 26 — Local authorities (PBTs) should prioritise water flow management in sustainable urban development planning to reduce the risk of flash floods, especially in densely populated urban areas, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
He said effective water flow management is crucial given the impact of climate change, which has led to increased rainfall and floods.
“That is why in planning, it is very important for us to approach in the context of sustainable development, looking not only at traffic flow and how pedestrian and vehicle mobility works, but also water flow and future energy needs.
“This will be one of the challenges. I hope each local authority will draft urban development plans within this comprehensive context, otherwise towns may face floods if drainage is not managed effectively,” he said.
He said this when opening the PBT Convention 2024 here today, also attended by Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Fadillah said building sustainable or smart cities must include sustainable development tools.
“How do we approach it from a holistic perspective, such as in terms of energy supply? Is it sufficient, and how can we ensure green energy is used to reduce carbon emissions?
“Second … how we supply to local residents and how we manage water to ensure used water is treated and reused, without disrupting water flow and causing floods across the area,” he said.
He added that an intelligent transport system should be considered to facilitate movement for residents around sustainable and smart cities.
“That way, we can plan our journeys. If we take the bus, we know when it is coming and when we will reach our destination.
“These are future challenges. If we don’t manage this, it will put pressure on people’s lives. Dealing with traffic congestion will certainly add stress, and one of our current challenges is addressing stress among the public,” he said.
— Bernama
