KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he is ready to meet and explain further the city's flood mitigation plans to a group of residents who wanted to sue him and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Shahidan said explanations, as well as short, medium and long-term plans regarding the matter, have been issued to the residents.
However, if there were parties still unsatisfied and wanted to file a lawsuit, Shahidan said it was their right to do so.
"I have no problem at all if they want to sue me because they are not satisfied with the explanation given and wanted to get further clarification. Please, come and meet me.
"However, if they want to ask for (documents) in black and white, lawyer's letter and so on, we have to respond according to the law and this involves the audit too.
"If they have decided to sue, to go to court and get publicity, that's their right.
"(But), if they want an explanation, they can see me. Tomorrow or tonight is fine with me," he said.
Shahidan said this after attending the Keluarga Malaysia Hardcore Poverty Eradication Programme (BMTKM) with heads of households of Phase 1 here today.
Present was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed.
Earlier today, it was reported that residents including former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan will be hauling City Hall to court over unanswered questions on its flood mitigation plans.
On Sept 21, a group of Kuala Lumpur residents gave Shahidan and City Hall until Monday (Sept 26) to respond to residents' demands for flood mitigation plans over the upcoming monsoon season.
On Sept 22, City Hall said it had issued a flash flood action plan for this year on May 9 and was currently working with several agencies to reduce flooding based on the plan.
Shahidan added that various short-term measures were put in place to overcome the flash floods for now, such as using sandbags to block water and putting up tents for volunteers to monitor and help to channel the floodwater.
Meanwhile, on BMTKM, Shahidan said the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) had approved the allocation of RM6.06 million under BMTKM in the Federal Territories, involving four localities in Kuala Lumpur, namely the People's Housing Programme (PPR) Kerinchi, Kampung Muhibbah and Taman Mulia, as well as the Public Housing (PA) Desa Rejang, involving 132 heads of households.
In Labuan, RM3.03 million of allocation was channelled to two localities, namely Kampung Sungai Bedaun and Kampung Patau-Patau 1 and 2, involving 47 heads of households.