REPAIRS will begin immediately on the rainwater downpipe which overflowed and caused water to seep into the air-conditioning duct in Parliament after a heavy downpour on Wednesday.

Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said they would replace the affected downpipe with a temporary one pending a complete refurbishment of some 30 water pipes.

"Work will begin today and take seven weeks for completion as the workers can only work on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when Parliament does not convene," he told reporters.

He reiterated that there was no leak as far as the roof slab was concerned, but only water seepage caused by an aged and grime-congested downpipe.

On Wednesday, rainwater dripped from an air-conditioning vent above a corridor of the Parliament lobby following a downpour.