In a written parliamentary reply today, Reezal said nine of the 13 retention ponds were in Perak, three in Selangor and one in Negeri Sembilan.

Perlis, Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak did not furnish any information on this matter, he said.

He was replying to a question from Amiruddin Hamzah (Pejuang-Kubang Pasu), who wanted to know why areas previously identified as retention ponds had been allowed for residential development.

Reezal said the permits allowing residential development were issued based on various technical reports received by the department of environment, the drainage and irrigation department (JPS) and the public works department (JKR).

“These retention ponds had not been gazetted as reservoir ponds within the local district plan.”

He said most of these ponds were former mines.

He reiterated that development on any land with water bodies must be reviewed and supported by the authorised technical departments, particularly the Selangor water management authority (LUAS) and the JPS.

On flooding, the minister said a task force had drafted a five-year (2021-2025) plan to counter this frequent problem.

“A task force led by the department handling local government and staffed by various agencies such as JPS, JKR and the various state secretaries’ offices was created on June 17, 2021.

“It was established to find solutions for flash floods in local council areas. It takes into account issues such as run-down, damaged and unsystematic drainage systems.”

Following the recent floods, questions had been raised as to why retention ponds, which would have held flood waters, had been approved for development.