As the year-end monsoon transition begins, with the Southwest Monsoon giving way to the Northeast Monsoon, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are anticipated, especially along the west coast and inland areas of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as the western parts of Sabah and Sarawak.
This phenomenon is also the cause of the current floods in several states, namely Kedah, Johor, Perak and Perlis, with around 3,000 victims having been evacuated to temporary relief centres as of Oct 16.
Floods have caused the country to suffer significant losses annually. However, the government’s commitment to enhancing flood mitigation measures, including improving infrastructure, has had a positive impact, with the total losses reduced to RM755 million last year compared to RM1.03 billion in 2022.
FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), is planning short- and long-term solutions for flood-prone areas or flood hotspots throughout the country, with DID identifying 4,619 locations for this year.
Deputy Prime Minister II Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the government allocated RM945 million to implement 119 flood mitigation projects in 2024 as part of efforts to reduce the impact of floods and damage to public property.
He said the projects concerned comprise 93 ongoing projects and 26 others in the pre-implementation stage.
According to the minister, PETRA has also prepared flood mitigation master plans based on the country’s major river basins as a long-term comprehensive solution to flood issues.
“As of 2024, a total of 49 flood mitigation master plans have been completed, with seven plans currently under development and work on three more scheduled to start as early as December 2024,” he said in a special interview with Bernama recently.
Fadillah added that between 2020 and last year (2023), 26 flood mitigation projects, comprising 17 structural projects and nine non-structural projects, were completed.
This year alone, one structural flood mitigation project was completed, namely the Sungai Stakan Flood Mitigation Plan in Kuching while one non-structural project, the Batang Saribas Flood Mitigation Master Plan Study in Sarawak, is in the process of being completed.
SHORT-TERM PLAN
A short-term plan is needed not only to address the flooding problems during the Northeast Monsoon period but also when the country experiences extraordinary rainfall.
The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, through DID, has taken the necessary steps to be in a state of preparedness to reduce flood risks in flood hotspots nationwide. This includes activating the operations control room of the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre to operate 24 hours.
This control room is responsible for generating seven-day-ahead monsoon flood forecasts and issuing flood warnings to relevant disaster management agencies for dissemination purposes as early as two days after receiving weather forecasts from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia).
Fadillah also said his ministry is coordinating with state authorities to set the standard operating procedure for dam water releases as preparation to increase flood storage capacity during the Northeast Monsoon.
He said 737 mobile pumps of various capacities are also ready to be deployed at all flood-prone locations across the country, with the designated pump operators on standby for immediate deployment if there is a need to remove water from the affected areas.
“Out of these 737 mobile pumps, 294, valued at RM50.03 million, belong to the federal government.
“Apart from that, 1,342 hydrology telemetry stations are being monitored to obtain current rainfall and water level data. We will also ensure that the 534 flood warning sirens installed in major rivers are functioning properly, in addition to the installation of 162 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor the current rise in river water levels,” he said.
He added all communication channels among state DID directors, district engineers and state hydrology officers at district, state and federal levels have been activated in preparation for the Northeast Monsoon.
COORDINATION BETWEEN PETRA AND RELATED AGENCIES
Fadillah also stressed that PETRA, through DID, actively participates in the National Disaster Management Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
This committee also includes state secretaries who chair the State Disaster Management Committee, as well as representatives of various technical and response agencies.
“In flood disasters, this committee is responsible for implementing policies, strategies, directives, directions and action plans for managing a disaster at the state and district levels, with the involvement of the Civil Defence Force as the secretariat,” he said.
He added that at the state level, the State Disaster Management Committee, led by the state secretary, coordinates assistance such as extending financial aid and deploying assets and manpower to the affected districts. The District Disaster Management Committee, headed by the district officer, coordinates actions and assets, as well as ensures there is sufficient manpower to help manage the disaster.
“Proper drainage management is also crucial in mitigating the impact of floods. Drainage systems are managed by various parties, including DID, local authorities, district offices, the Public Works Department, and other agencies and the developers concerned,” he said.
Fadillah added although the responsibility for constructing and maintaining drains falls under local authorities according to the Streets, Drainage and Building Act 1974, PETRA will continue to work with the relevant agencies to ensure that drainage systems function properly to reduce flood risks.
LONG-TERM FLOOD MANAGEMENT PLAN
Effective flood management, meanwhile, requires a long-term approach involving a combination of technology and infrastructure planning.
Elaborating on this, Fadillah said Integrated Flood Management is a concept that combines several key elements to address flood issues. It involves a number of key steps including conducting master plan studies to understand the causes of flooding in certain areas, especially in river basins.
He said the flood mitigation master plan provides clear guidelines on actions that need to be taken to reduce flood risks, with the study involving proposed short-, medium-, and long-term solutions including the construction of dams and drainage systems to control water flow.
He said in terms of technology, they are using the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (PRAB) system, supported by the Integrated Forecast Operation System, which leverages Industrial Revolution 4.0 technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) to collect and analyse real-time data.
The technology, he said, will help improve the accuracy of forecasts and ensure that flood warnings are issued earlier, reducing damage to property and loss of life.
He added that infrastructure planning, the use of sophisticated technology and public awareness are long-term approaches to reducing flood risks and their negative impact on society, the economy and the environment.
According to Fadillah, flood mitigation infrastructure planning and development is a crucial component of long-term flood management and that it involves building systems capable of efficiently managing water, thus reducing flood risks.
“One of the key initiatives is constructing dams and retention ponds to control river flow and collect rainwater during heavy rainfall, preventing water from overflowing into residential or agricultural areas,” he said.
Fadillah said integrated drainage systems are also designed to efficiently channel water from urban and rural areas to rivers or reservoirs.
“The construction of artificial canals and drainage systems helps direct water to lower areas or natural reservoirs, while modifying rivers and natural buffer zones by straightening, deepening or widening frequently overflowing rivers is a physical measure to reduce flood risks,” he explained.
Buffer zones such as swampy areas and mangrove forests along coastlines act as natural barriers that slow down water flow and absorb excess rainwater, he added.
He also said using technology for flood forecasting and monitoring, such as the PRAB system, is essential for analysing hydrological, meteorological and other data to produce more accurate predictions. Moreover, the development of modern monitoring systems, such as drones, water sensors and satellites, is also needed to assist in monitoring river flow, water levels and the weather in high-risk areas. The data collected can be sent directly to flood control centres for immediate action.
The use of the Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping technology and computer simulations enable the creation of flood risk maps, he added.
“This is important for planning urban development and infrastructure in safer areas and ensuring that high-risk areas receive proper attention and protection.
“Next, we also need to plan the building of resilient cities that come with flood-free zones, flood-resistant building designs and green infrastructure development,” he said.
He added that flood-prone areas can be turned into water retention zones or green areas, while residential or commercial developments can be directed to safer locations.
“There is a need to promote flood-resistant building designs such as raising building foundations, using waterproof materials or building drainage systems within and around buildings. Public buildings such as hospitals and schools located in flood-prone areas must come with flood mitigation plans,” he said.
He said green infrastructure development involves creating green spaces such as urban parks, small forests and natural catchment areas that absorb rainwater and reduce flood risks.
“Green vegetation also helps reduce soil erosion as the latter contributes to flooding,” he said.
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
Efforts to reduce flood risks in the country should not be the sole responsibility of the government as society also plays a vital role.
Fadillah said public education programmes, including continuous awareness campaigns, need to be implemented to raise awareness about flood risks and disseminate information on evacuation plans and ways to protect lives and property.
“Community involvement in flood action plans is essential, with local communities being involved in planning and implementing flood action plans so that they understand their roles and responsibilities in reducing risks and accelerating recovery after floods,” he explained.
Community support systems such as volunteer teams are also needed to help prepare for floods, including providing emergency assistance.
At the same time, there must also be policies that support protection against floods and regulate development in flood-prone areas, along with enforcement of environmental regulations to reduce soil erosion and landscape changes that increase flood risks.
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