MACC senior investigations director Hafaz Nazar said the investigation was opened in 2022 following complaints of alleged abuse of power involving several Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and department of irrigation and drainage (DID) officers between 2015 and 2021.

“MACC conducted a comprehensive probe based on the documents and evidence obtained before the investigation paper was completed in 2023 and referred to the deputy public prosecutor.

“However, based on the outcome of the investigation conducted, no elements of corruption were identified and the case was classified as (requiring) no further action,” he said in a statement.

The allegations investigated included claims involving the rezoning of several areas near water retention ponds in the capital, including in Taman Wahyu, for development purposes.

He also said any breach of development conditions affecting the functions of flood retention ponds would fall under the responsibility of the local authorities to take action and provide explanations, as DBKL has jurisdiction over monitoring, regulatory oversight, and development approvals.

His statement comes a few days after federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh said the capacity of Kuala Lumpur’s flood retention ponds had shrank to about 30% of their original size.

Yeoh said the reduction in size was caused by the alienation of 17 land lots within the Jinjang and Batu retention pond zones to developers since 2015.

She also said DBKL will not approve planning permission for any development application on flood retention pond land until conditions stipulated by the DID are fully complied with, to ensure that the ponds’ original function and maintenance access are preserved.

Lahad Datu district officer Firuz Idzualdeen @ Benetty Dzul said the road is temporarily impassable and there is currently no alternative route to either Tawau or Lahad Datu.

He said the public works department will construct a temporary diversion, Bernama reported.

He advised road users to exercise caution and to comply with instructions issued by authorities at the scene.

Several photos of the collapsed road have also gone viral, showing vehicles stranded in the area.

Chung said the Pacific Ocean’s Enso weather cycle is now in its cooler La Niña phase, but is showing signs of transitioning to its neutral state before moving into the warmer El Niño phase, Harian Metro quoted him as saying.

The meteorological department has previously said the southwest monsoon is expected to last from May to September.

Chung, a researcher with Universiti Malaysia Terengganu’s science and marine environment faculty, said the risk of extreme dry weather is low at the beginning of the monsoon, but could increase towards the middle of the year and the year end, depending on the strength of El Niño.

He said while El Niño is generally associated with hot, dry weather, it is not the sole factor behind extreme dry weather in Malaysia. “Temporary atmospheric disturbances can also cause extreme dry weather in Malaysia,” he said.

Chung said the risk of haze will increase if El Niño coincides with the southwest monsoon, as the resulting prolonged dry conditions will reduce the likelihood of rainfall dispersing haze particles in the atmosphere.

“During the monsoon, southwesterly winds generally carry cross-border haze towards the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak,” he said.

The Enso weather cycle, or El Niño-Southern Oscillation, is a recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. During periods ranging from about three to seven years, the surface waters of the ocean warm or cool by anywhere from 1°C to 3°C, compared to normal.

The cycle consists of three phases: the El Niño hot and dry phase, the La Niña cool and wet phase, and a neutral phase.

Lahad Datu: Jalan Silam di sini yang menjadi laluan utama menghubungkan Lahad Datu ke Tawau runtuh sepanjang 50 meter di kedua-dua arah petang ini.

Pegawai Daerah Lahad Datu Firuz Idzualdeen @ Benetty Mohd Dzul berkata, kejadian kira-kira jam 2 petang berhampiran Kampung Dewata itu menyebabkan jalan berkenaan tidak dapat dilalui buat sementara waktu.

"Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) daerah telah membuat laluan lencongan sementara sebelum dapat dilalui kira-kira jam 6 petang," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama.

Beliau berkata, pengguna dinasihatkan supaya berhati-hati ketika melalui kawasan terjejas selain mematuhi arahan petugas keselamatan dan pihak berkuasa di lokasi kejadian.