Experts Call For Smart Infrastructure And Resilient Cities

Flood disasters inflict losses amounting to hundreds of millions of ringgit, damaging property, agricultural land, and infrastructure.

This second instalment of a three-part special report on floods explores measures that authorities must adopt to strengthen existing mitigation strategies, paving the way for a more effective response to flood challenges.

Each time a flood disaster strikes, the federal and state governments incur losses amounting to hundreds of millions of ringgit, excluding the repair costs, especially for infrastructure like roads and bridges.

According to the 2023 Special Report on the Impact of Floods in Malaysia released by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the country suffered losses of RM755.4 million due to floods in 2023. These include damages to residential properties (RM168.3 million), vehicles (RM22.3 million), business premises (RM53.2 million), manufacturing (RM10.3 million), agricultural industries (RM120.6 million), and public assets and infrastructure (RM380.7 million).

According to Dr Mazlan Mohd Tahir, a lecturer from the Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, addressing floods requires a comprehensive approach that also targets the root causes.

“The approach must integrate technical solutions, planning, and community awareness," he told Bernama.

He added that among the contributing factors to floods are the failure of existing drainage systems to accommodate rainwater capacity and logging and deforestation activities, which reduce the land's ability to absorb water, leading to increased surface water runoff.

He further noted, "The problem is exacerbated by weak river management systems, compounded by the behaviour of some individuals who dispose of waste and other materials into rivers.”

SMART INFRASTRUCTURE, EMBRACING ESG PRINCIPLES

To achieve a sustainable future and create synergy for meaningful change in Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged all stakeholders, including businesses, communities, and individuals, to actively adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles beyond mere compliance.

He emphasised the need for a mindset shift among all parties in the country’s effort to achieve net-zero emissions.

The water level of Sungai Kenau in Pekan Sungai Lembing has almost reached the alert level, which is 19.95 meters, according to a recent BERNAMA photo survey.

Dean of the Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Prof Dr Hafizan Juahir, said that to empower ESG principles in addressing floods, authorities must promptly implement long-term plans, including constructing integrated drainage systems in urban and rural areas, ensuring connectivity to main rivers.

“Flood retention ponds should be established to hold rainwater before channelling it to rivers or the sea, in addition to protecting natural water catchment areas from logging or development activities,” he told Bernama.

He further highlighted the importance of continuous awareness campaigns on waste management and the need to maintain drainage systems.

He further stressed the need for a specific climate action plan, including flood mitigation measures such as constructing levees.

He added that flood management requires a holistic approach involving the government, private sector, and communities, as prevention, sustainable development, and effective disaster management are key to reducing the future impacts of floods.

On Nov 30, Minister of Public Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that the pilot project of Denmark’s NoFloods Flood Mitigation Technology, currently in the proof-of-concept (POC) stage, has proven effective in addressing floods and minimising the impact of road closures caused by such disasters.

Installed over a 300-metre stretch at section 6.30 of the federal road FT189 in Jertih, Terengganu, from Oct 1 to March 31, the NoFloods barrier utilises Internet of Things (IoT) technology and can withstand water levels up to 1.2 metres.

During the first wave of monsoon floods at the end of last month, the government was estimated to have spent RM312.1 million on slope repairs and maintenance of federal and state roads.

  URBAN PLANNING AND RESILIENT DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

Meanwhile, environmental governance and sustainability science expert Associate Professor Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman from Universiti Putra Malaysia said the government must identify areas frequently affected by floods, particularly settlements near rivers, to prevent further development in these locations.

 Development projects, she explained, can lead to sedimentation, such as mud, sand, and organic materials, which form new land in low-lying areas and river mouths, ultimately obstructing water flow.

The residents are still carrying out their daily activities as usual even though the water in the Kelantan River at Pasir Kelang Jetty is at an alert level after the recent heavy rains and floods in the state.

Senior Fellow of the Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai, Professor Zulkifli Yusop, said critical buildings and infrastructure such as hospitals, fire stations, Tenaga Nasional Berhad substations, water treatment plants, and temporary evacuation centres should be located in areas with lower flood risks or constructed with flood-proof specifications.

“Local authorities can utilise wetlands and natural ponds as part of mitigation measures, and each development project should implement its own flood mitigation measures by providing retention ponds and preserving portions of the area with original vegetation or re-greening it with other plants.

Flood-affected residents in Kampung Banggol Peradong, Kuala Terengganu collect bulk garbage at a temporary garbage dump.

"On-site control is crucial to reduce downstream risks, and if managed effectively, flood mitigation costs can be shared with developers," he told Bernama.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has earlier said that the government is estimated to require RM392 billion to implement 365 Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) projects in flood-prone areas nationwide from 2023 to 2100.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, said the estimate was based on studies by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage on river basins to provide comprehensive flood planning and solutions.

Translated by Salbiah Said