[COLUMNIST] Applicable measures to overcome increasing risk of flooding

ALTHOUGH Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s call to activate the District Disaster Management Committees (JPBD) was timely, the current administration has yet to convincingly demonstrate a sense of urgency in constructing and implementing the applicable flood mitigation infrastructure and facilities.

Eventually, it may result in heightened vulnerability to flooding during the Northeast Monsoon season from November to March 2023 – resulting in more loss of lives and damage to properties and the economic and financial losses which have to be borne by the government.

During the inaugural Climate Crisis Symposium 2022 at the Parliament building on Monday (September 5), Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man expected Malaysia to spend RM392 billion in the next 78 years on flood mitigation measures.

Besides allocating RM15 billion “off-budget” to address flood problems in the next eight years (2023 to 2030), the government also places RM230.71 billion and RM126.55 billion funds for flood mitigation and urban drainage as well as coastal infrastructure, respectively, till 2100.

In addition, Federal Territories Minister Dato’ Seri Shahidan Kassim indicated that the high-capacity groundwater storage tunnel in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur will take about three to five years (between 2025 to 2028) to complete.

However, due to the “La Nina” phenomenon since September 2020, Malaysia has experienced above-normal rainfall even during the non-monsoon season (i.e., from April to May). The Klang Valley (encompassing the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, as well as Selangor) has experienced the worst flood after a two-day continuous rainfall between December 17 and 18, 2021, followed by three (minor) floods on March 7, April 25 and May 25.

As of the fourth quarter of 2021 (Q4 2021), the Klang Valley consists of almost one-third of the entire country's population – 9.10 out of 32.6 million. Notwithstanding, higher population density can be part of the factors triggering frequent flash floods in the urban conglomeration. Yet, environmental concretisation and overdevelopment are other causes of repeated flash floods in the Klang Valley. (“Experts warn of more floods in Klang Valley”, The Malaysian Insight, May 29, 2022)

In short, La Nina is a weather pattern that brings warmer-than-normal sea-surface temperatures to the southern Pacific Ocean around northern Australia, New Guinea and the islands of Indonesia.

As a result, the annual rainfall in Malaysia has increased from the range of 670.0 to 3,673.2mm in 2019 to the range of 1,691.8 to 5,320.8mm in 2020, based on the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM)’s Compendium of Environment Statistics 2021.

While the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) predicted a 60 per cent chance for the La Nina condition to continue until December, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), on the other hand, foresees the event will last through the end of this year.

WMO further stated that the La Nina is a mysterious “triple dip” existing for three consecutive years – the first in this 21st century – caused by the impacts of global warming. Hence, some coastal regions such as Southeast Asia and many parts of Australia have more rain than usual – increasing the risk of flooding.

Does this imply Malaysia will have even more severe flooding by the year-end than in December last year due to increasingly unpredictable weather?

Between December 15-18, 2021, the Klang Valley experienced the worst flooding after registering more than 2500mm of rain. Similarly, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka were also affected by the “once in 100 years” flood, whereby at least 54 were dead and two missing.

Moreover, the July 4 flood in Baling, Kedah, claimed three lives. More than 1,400 residents had to relocate to three temporary evacuation centres.

Notwithstanding, the government has allocated billions of ringgit to solve flood woes over the past few decades. Yet, the lack of efficient and effective monitoring mechanisms has prevented Malaysia from implementing flood mitigation projects within the projected timeline.

The Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) 2021 Series 1 stated that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) only completed 11.1 per cent of 18 proposed short-term flood mitigation measures (2018-2022) under the Master Plan, causing the federal territory’s flash flood issue remains unresolved.

Due to the lacklustre attitude toward the adverse effects of climate change from the previous administrations over decades, the total losses from the floods in several Malaysian states from end-2021 until early 2022 alone amounted to RM6.1 billion.

Subsequently, the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal revealed that an average of 23,000 people were affected by floods during the 2016-2020 period.

Therefore, to minimise the occurrence of floods, EMIR Research would like to propose several policies for the current administration to execute immediately:

1. Stop approving new commercial and residential building development projects

According to the National Property Information Centre (Napic), occupancy rates for purpose-built office and retail spaces are decreasing even though supply rose in 2021.

The take-up rate of office spaces fell from 83.3 per cent in 2017 to 78.3 per cent in 2021. Meanwhile, the number of malls vacant more or less stagnated within the same five-year period. The additions of new and often larger complexes have dragged the occupancy rate down from 81.3 per cent in 2017 to 76.3 per cent last year.

Furthermore, the total number of units within the high-rise segment (including residential high-rise, commercial serviced apartments and small-office home-office units) that remained unsold and under construction in 2021 was 111,804.

The rise in the vacancy rate for both commercial and residential buildings is partly due to changing consumer habits after the pandemic – prefer to purchase items online rather than from physical outlets and flexible working approach. The three-time overnight policy rate (OPR) hike has also substantially decreased the overall purchasing power of Malaysians.

Hence, now is the time for the government to pause all the new commercial and residential building construction projects and overcome the property oversupply issue.

At the same time, the slowing down of construction projects should provide space for the government and local authorities to implement additional mitigation measures like identifying and earmarking detention and retention ponds in strategic sites in the capital city, for example.

The pause would also allow the government and the local authorities to improve and adjust and, therefore issue new guidelines (for new construction projects) that will help mitigate flooding.

2. Build consensus between developers, architects and the local councils to turn land or property into green spaces

Urban city planning expert Shuhana Shamsuddin opined that all developers, architects and the local councils work in silos. Eventually, they risk disjointed and uncoordinated efforts that hamper progress in flood mitigation efforts (“After Klang Valley Flood debacle, what needs redesigning? Here’s what an urban city planner proposes,” Malay Mail, January 10, 2022).

Instead of constructing more high-rise buildings that change the land use zoning, the government should initiate more green spaces starting in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Georgetown and Kuching – the major conurbations.

In general, green spaces refer to initiatives that encourage the development of open space in an urban setting – providing people with the avenue to exercise, relax and socialise.

For instance, parks, waterfronts, walking trails, sporting fields, community gardens, forest reserves, etc. are green lungs that could integrate the natural environment with the built environment within the city itself, creating havens of peace and quietness within the bustle of the city life.

While slowing down the rapid urbanisation rate in Malaysia (76.6 per cent in 2020), the green spaces could act as the sponges of the city to divert excess water from heavy downpours.

3. Clear solid pollutants that clog drains and rivers on a weekly basis

The government could install simple, custom-designed surveillance Internet of Things (IoT) modules at designated spots along the river to keep track of the clearance progress.

The IoT package can consist of a pollution detection sensor, a camera, a micro-controller, a transmitter and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

4. Construct swales along major highways, roads and housing areas prone to flooding

Swales are shallow, broad and vegetated channels that could convey stormwater and treat run-off to reduce pollutants. Thus, the water does not collect on land and reduces the likelihood of flooding events.

5. Create regular awareness campaigns and education programmes to promote understanding of environmental issues, especially on flash floods

The government could remind the citizens not to throw any rubbish into the drain or river through social media, radio and television (TV) broadcast on a regular basis.

Parents and teachers could also educate their children that rubbish will disturb the water flow, which leads to flooding afterwards.

While these measures could prevent (minor) floods from happening in the near term, the government meanwhile still has to identify the flood hotspots via the Geographic Information System (GIS), in cooperation with MetMalaysia and National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).

Once categorising which flood hotspots are in need of urgent repair, the government could carry out upgrading work for the existing flood mitigation, urban drainage and coastal infrastructure.

Nonetheless, a rigorous checks and balances mechanism is essential to ensure any stakeholders involved abide by project specifications and timelines.

By advocating efficiency and transparency throughout the construction process, the flood prevention infrastructure can be completed sooner rather than 78 years later.

More Malaysians in the low-income category could not afford to endure another round of flooding. They are becoming more vulnerable in coping with the rising cost of living – ranging from food, fuel and loan (housing and car).

---

Amanda Yeo is Research Analyst at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.