He has seen the capital’s many evolutions over the years.
As someone who has lived and breathed KL for so many years, Mahadi’s administration has been closely watched to see if the career DBKL leader will be able to make a difference and propel KL to join the likes of developed capital cities of the world.
While it only has been around a year-and-a-half since he took over the helm as mayor from October 2020, Mahadi has already made an indelible mark on the city, according to some observers.
An environmentalist said: “From my observations, while floods have been an annual issue in KL, there have been some tangible changes over the past two years. We used to see the effects of floods last for days, now it’s down to hours. He must be doing something right.”
Several areas that experienced flash floods and stagnant water after heavy rain on April 25 were almost back to normal after 45 minutes.
Recently, Mahadi announced several new measures DBKL was taking to alleviate the flood situation in KL, through targeted management of flash flood hotspots.
Under the Flash Flood Mitigation Action Plan 2022, DBKL is implementing 14 interim measures based on weather forecasts by the meteorological department.
These measures include the prevention of clogging and obstruction of roadside outlets, and upgrading scupper drains to ensure proper sloping for water to flow naturally. DBKL machinery and staff are also being placed at strategic flood locations to mobilise tow trucks, mobile water pump lorries and high-powered water pumps during flooding.
A veteran KLite, Kolonel (Rtd) Mohamad Fuzi Taib, said: “As a longtime Wangsa Maju resident, I am happy to see the changes the mayor has been bringing to our township. It is clear that he is committed to doing what is best for the community.
“For example, DBKL has built bicycle and pedestrian lanes in the area, and we now also have electric buses operating in Wangsa Maju. It is good to see some proactive efforts by DBKL to help residents lead healthier and greener lives.”
Under the Flash Flood Mitigation Action Plan 2022, DBKL has also undertaken improvements to traffic dispersal measures through the deployment of more traffic wardens to assist road users with detours. It is also improving water flow by building new sumps as well as placing sandbags before flood walls can be constructed.
In addition, Mahadi has initiated a 24-hour operation room to manage floods in the city. Cameras with 24-hour artificial intelligence functionality have been installed at strategic locations to help with the SMART traffic system management and monitor water levels from the Kuala Lumpur Command and Control Centre. They also act to deter crime and keep an eye on the city’s assets.
As climate change will continue to wreak havoc on densely populated cities such as KL, the question is are we ready to adapt. Mahadi seems to have taken a keen interest in addressing the present and future consequences of climate change as well as localising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to meet KL’s needs.
Under his watch, SDGs have been incorporated into the Draft Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040, and he has put in place the Low Carbon Society 2030 Blueprint and the Climate Action Plan 2050.
These efforts are part of DBKL’s overall long-term efforts to achieve the “Kuala Lumpur City For All” vision by 2040.
Chau Loon Wai, a senior lecturer and co-director of the Low Carbon Asia Research Centre at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), said: “It is clear that Mahadi is a hands-on mayor. He is known for going on the ground to see what needs improvement and ensuring that his team at DBKL executes well.
“From my observation, there have been some tangible changes that have improved the city’s urban spaces and living environment. We can now see more pedestrian facilities, and DBKL has also done a good job in greening and beautifying the city.”
It looks like this mayor is doing the right things to set in motion a change in KL’s fundamentals, but will he have enough time to see it all come to fruition?