Study on flood impacts and proposals for

flood management improved in Malaysia

NO. NAME ID
1. NUR NAJWA UMIRAH BT NOR AZMAN (ME0101843)

2. SYAHRULIZHAM BIN SHAHROM (EP0101829)

3. MUHAMMAD NAJMUDDIN BIN ABDUL NASIR (EE0101845)

4. K. PRAGATEESWARAN (ME099928)
 Introduction
Malaysia is physically located in the continent of South East Asia, that consist of two
regions which are Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia that is separated by South China Sea.
The weather pattern is characterized by its temperature, high humidity and substantial rainfall
throughout the year. This country is experiencing monsoon seasons especially from November to
March which carries copious rainfall and winds that is vulnerable to natural disaster specifically
flood, the catastrophic event that has been dominate this country since 1880s until now. The
main reason that has caused this natural disaster are the climate changing patterns and the
adverse weather effects. Besides, human activities are also the factors that can lead to hazardous
flood for instance deforestation, rapid urbanization and the revolution of industry that can caused
air pollution, global warming as well as affecting the climate.

In 2014-15, a devastating flood has struck Malaysia where at least 3390 and 4209 flood
casualties were evacuated in Kelantan and Terengganu respectively (Khaosod, 2014). The
persistence of rain rose the water beyond safety level on the rivers in East Coast of Malaysia that
are Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu. Following to that matter, approximately 60,000 victims
has been evacuated as well as leading to excessive damages in residential buildings and
transportation disruption. Many victims fled their homes and lost their valuable things to flood
that causing damages to their structures and appliances. In the aftermath of the flood, Malaysian
government has estimated the loss was cost up to 1 billion ringgits where 100 million ringgits
and 132 million ringgits are channeled for roads repairing in Kelantan and Terengganu
accordingly (Ali Khan, et al.,2014). The restoration processes after the occurrence of this
disaster requires a lot of community activities which involving the government, the society and
the non-profit organization.

This perilous flood can affect many parties and the effect could last longer than one
would normally thought. The vital purpose of this study is to analyze the initiative that needed to
be taken into consideration in order to improve the flood management as well as the mitigation
of flood. Thus, the need of examining the effect of the hazardous flood in Malaysia also is one of
the procedures in this study. However, the findings from researches show that our country is still
facing the issues and problem of disaster relief. To ensure a successful flood management,
National Security Council (MKN) of Malaysia has come up with three stages of relief operation,
which are pre-disaster operation, during disaster and post-disaster. According to Leigh and Low,
government will only act after the disaster occurred and did not prepare the policies for future
(Chan, 2012). This study should be evaluated seriously so that both of the government and
society will achieve a satisfaction in the process of implementing these procedures in future.
Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015 has highlighted the importance of disaster-risk
reduction in development planning that has been adopted by 168 nations and international
organizations. (ISDR, 2005) In other words, disaster-risk reduction means that the procedures
that need to be prepared for an effective improvement to the flood management.

Natural disaster victims will be the most affected one in terms of losing the lives and
shelter so disaster relief from government and private sources are crucial in order for them to
recover from this occurrence. The effectiveness of disaster relief operations such as pre-disaster,
during disaster and post disaster play important roles to the society and country.
 Literature Review

2.1 Pre-disaster operational relief

National Security Council (MKN) is the head of the agency for disaster management to
coordinate and establish as well as verifying and observing the implementation of the disaster
management mechanism. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is standardized on the
management before disasters specifically flood in Malaysia. All the agencies involved in this
operation should take action to monitor the activities and responsibility in dealing with the
disaster management (MKN, 2012). Agencies such as Department of Irrigation and Drainage
(JPS), Public Works Department (JKR) and Department of Meteorology and Local Authorities
(PBT) are responsible for the structured and unstructured in the process of flood mitigation in
Malaysia. Structural measures implemented in Malaysia are the steps taken to control flood
flows such as creating dam and dykes. Meanwhile non-structural measures is the planning of
development or land, flood warning system and weather forecast in order to alleviate the effects
of flood (Chan, 2012; Khalid, & Shafiai, 2015). Moreover, the weather forecast also is the vital
step that needs to be considering, as weather is one of the factors that lead to flood. Structural
measures implemented to reduce the risk of danger to society because dam is created not only as
a barrier to restrict flows of water but to suppress flood that act as reservoirs.

The agencies that are responsible for the unstructured measures in the improvement of
flood management and the mitigation of flood are Malaysia Meteorological Department (JMM)
and the Public Works Department (JKR) (MKN, 2011). The flood warning system has been
applied based on its water level since the first disaster occur in 1925 along Sungai Kinta and
Sungai Klang in Perak and Selangor respectively to warn the residents especially in the flood
prone area for the precaution steps or evacuation. This step is actually educating the society to be
well prepared in terms of saving their shelter as well as losing their lives or valuable items such
as furniture and also transportation disruption from the water damage. The Royal Malaysia
Police (PDRM) is in charge to observe the water level of rainfall and send the information to
Warning Flood Relief Committee and act via radio frequency (VHF) (Jabatan Pengaliran dan
Saliran, 2013). This valid information then can be shared with the society so that they are well
prepared and organized for the expected disaster.
 Apart from that, the information regarding the water level, rain and weather forecast can
be accessed online through the website directly which is accessible by the government agencies
and the public. In this era, the communication medium is broadly provided; the use of social
media such as Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp can be shared instantly and shortly in just a blink
of an eye. Additionally, the employees of the agencies that are related to the flood management
such as Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Malaysia Meteorological Department (JMM) and
National Security Division (BKN) are provided with short message system (SMS) for disaster
warning system. (Jabatan Pengaliran dan Saliran, 2013) The employees will then spread the
information to the public so that they will get all this important information as a preparation
before the disaster strikes.

Moreover, the public and private sectors should be taking action in order to provide the
knowledge to the society of the disaster management and to mitigate the hazardous flood. One of
the actions is organizing campaigns to raise awareness of the disaster among the society. The
organizer should emphasize on how victims need to take care of their health during the disaster
as for example to have clean water supply, enough food supplies and their personal hygiene.
Beside that, the training campaign is also helpful to the victims as they can learn on how to
survive the emergency disaster so that the society can enhance their surviving skills. This is
important as the victims would be less panicked and traumatize when they are encountering such
perilous disaster. On top of that, the government also should expense adequate amount of budget
for handing an emergency bag to each one of the victims. According to Disaster and Emergency
Management Presidency (AFAD) in Turkey, they have suggested that the emergency bag should
contain supplies such as water, food, hygiene and first aid equipment, protective clothing,
sleeping bag, whistle, flashlight and life jacket where the bag is portable and lightweight (Seher
and Ulku, 2015).