KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is the country's best example of a sponge city to absorb rain and prevent flooding, said the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
Its deputy director-general (specialist sector) Bibi Zarina Che Omar said Putrajaya was a "practical example" of using environmentally friendly drainage methods to avoid flooding in an area.
"Putrajaya is a good example of a sponge city. Rainwater will fall into ponds, which then flows into wetlands where it is filtered before it goes into lakes as clean water.
"So we should look to Putrajaya as an example instead of looking at other countries, because we receive different amounts of rainfall and differ in terms of (geographic) land surface."
Bibi was one of three panellists in an online forum entitled 'Flood Disaster - Perspectives of river management, environment and climate change in Malaysia' organised by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Climate Change.
The other two panellists were Environment and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang, and UKM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman.
In the forum, Bibi also highlighted that there was a need to provide a legal provision requiring DID's involvement in all aspects of development, including large-scale projects such as major land clearing.
"Right now, DID is invited to provide comments or reviews in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) certification application.
"Our comments are being taken into consideration, but unfortunately there is no maintenance on the facilities for sediment control (of developments).
"DID should be involved in large-scale developments including for agriculture, logging, and land clearing. We hope that DID be referred to in all types of development in the country."
She said although DID had an irrigation and drainage guideline for developers, there was no legal element to it, hence no punitive action could be taken against those who do not adhere to the guidelines.
"If we can enact laws (requiring developers to follow DID guidelines), then it will be stronger in terms of control," she added.
Meanwhile, Zaini said the Environment and Water Ministry was in the process of drafting the Climate Change bill, and making the Urban Stormwater Management manual (MSMA) into a regulatory framework.
"We are also implementing a hybrid system for flood management, which is through rapid disposal of floodwaters and controlling the flood from its source."