Floods Reshape Landscapes In The Blink Of An Eye

Floods have traditionally been associated with the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon season.

However, they have evolved into an unpredictable, year-round threat affecting all states, including areas previously untouched by flooding.

This special three-part report delves into the growing severity of this issue and its profound impact on the nation.

The ongoing monsoon season, expected to persist until March, has triggered floods across 10 states since late November, displacing approximately 153,000 people.

The disaster has also claimed 12 lives: five in Kelantan, three each in Terengganu and Kedah, and one in Sarawak.

Flooding is a common occurrence during the Northeast Monsoon, which brings prolonged heavy rain to most states, especially along the east coast of the Peninsula. However, floods have now become a nearly year-round phenomenon, affecting all states, including areas that were previously flood-free.

Ironically, experts point out that while landscape changes contribute to flooding, the disaster itself also reshapes landscapes, necessitating substantial financial resources for restoration.

For instance, during the latest flooding incident, the Ministry of Public Works reported 29 landslides across six states as of the time of this report.

According to Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, a total of RM72.1 million is required to repair the affected slopes.

LAND USE IMBALANCE  

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman, an expert in environmental governance and sustainability science from Universiti Putra Malaysia, said development activities altering natural landscapes can disrupt drainage systems and reduce the land's ability to absorb rainwater.

She noted that this situation can significantly heighten flood risks, especially when development is undertaken without regard for the local ecosystem, resulting in what is termed as land-use imbalance.

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Haliza explained that land-use imbalance arises when land development deviates from sustainable planning principles, causing adverse environmental changes.

 “One of the consequences of land-use imbalance is a reduced capacity to absorb rainwater, causing water to flow quickly into drainage systems and rivers.

 “Additionally, unplanned development often leads to drainage systems that cannot accommodate the volume of natural water flow, resulting in overflow. Deforestation, soil excavation, and development in water catchment areas further disrupt the balance of ecosystems,” she added when contacted by Bernama.

Senior Fellow at the Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Water Security, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Skudai, Prof Zulkifli Yusop explained that if land use in an area remains undisturbed, forested catchment areas have a high capacity to store rainwater in both their canopies and soil.

“The soil in forested areas is highly permeable, and when rainfall is not excessively heavy (less than 40 millimetres), nearly all rainwater that reaches the surface can seep into the ground without creating surface runoff.

 “When forested land is converted to agricultural use or developed for settlements and urbanisation, infiltration rates decrease, leading to increased surface runoff and flooding.

“Land clearing also causes erosion and sedimentation, making rivers shallower and unable to swiftly channel floodwaters. This often leads to flooding in upstream areas, particularly in flat terrains,” he told Bernama.

LANDSCAPE CHANGES AND OTHER IMPACTS  

Repeated flooding has a profound effect on the landscape and environment in affected areas. These changes are driven by powerful currents, sedimentation, erosion, and human intervention during recovery efforts.

Haliza said swift currents erode soil along riverbanks, slopes, and farmlands, resulting in the loss of fertile soil and reshaping the natural terrain.

For example, severe erosion along the Kelantan River during the 2014 floods caused riverbanks to become steep and triggered landslides in village areas.

“Additionally, the destruction of natural structures, such as forests, grasslands, and agricultural land, occurs due to erosion and sediment deposition, as seen in Cameron Highlands, Pahang. River overflows deposit silt into low-lying areas, submerging padi fields and damaging tea plantations.

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 “Floods also carry agricultural chemicals (fertiliser, pesticides) along with industrial and domestic waste into rivers and lakes, as evidenced by the ammonia pollution in Sungai Galas, Kelantan, which made the water source unsafe for use,” she said.

Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu has said earlier that the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) collected over 12,800 tons of flood-related waste from 45 locations across seven states between Nov 28 and Dec 11.

A Bernama survey of several flood-affected areas, especially coastal regions near Tumpat, Pasir Puteh, and Bachok in Kelantan, as well as Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu, showed piles of waste, including plastic and rotting wood.

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Hasbullah Deraman, 39, a resident of Kampung Chabang Empat Tok Mek Ngoh in Tumpat, said that after every flood, large heaps of garbage and waste accumulate in the area, polluting the environment and posing a threat to local health.

On Dec 7, the Ministry of Health reported detecting 10,272 cases of waterborne diseases in temporary evacuation centres across Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, and Perak.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said of these cases, 6,730 were acute respiratory infections, 3,021 were skin infections, 298 were acute gastroenteritis, 190 were conjunctivitis, 20 were chickenpox, and 13 were hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Translated by Salbiah Said