Effort from all parties needed to prevent massive floods from recurring

No words could properly describe the extent of the damage from the flood disaster, which hit Kelantan at end of 2014.

Though unusually heavy rainfall in Ulu Kelantan was said to be the main cause of the flood, other factors must be looked into holistically to identify what could have aggravated the situation. These include topography, land use and river condition.

In the past three series written on the floods, the writers had highlighted problems like the Sungai Nenggiri becoming more shallow, rampant logging, land clearing and the development of farms near rivers without riparian zones.

In 11 days the writers made their way to mang of the districts in Kelantan. Along the main road from Gua Musang to Kota Baharu they saw the slogan 'Anok Kelate, Saye Hute' (Kelantanese People, Love Their Jungle) written in red on signboards pointing toward the forest reserve, in a bid to remind the people that environmental conservation begins with the local community.

ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS NEED TO BE TIGHTENED

Therefore, to prevent such massive floods from recurring, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UNISZA) Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) Professor Dr Mohd Ekhwan Toriman called on the government to review all environmental laws.

He urged for the laws to be tightened to ensure the well-being of the environment was not taken for granted.

Existing guidelines had fallen on deaf ears and development agencies proceeded with projects that were detrimental to the environment.

"For example, we have guidelines concerning waterfront development which state that there must be 40 to 50 metres of riparian reserve.

"This is actually difficult to implement, but I feel that at least the guidelines bind developers to comply and a developer will be fined or ordered to stop work if they do not comply with the EIA (Environmental Impact Assesment).

"To me, the RM500,000 fine on developers is not a problem. We should look into these regulations," he told Bernama.

Besides that, Ekhwan also voiced that responsible quarters should be more proactive and efficient in carrying out enforcement.

The Department of Environment also needs to conduct more frequent operations, especially in remote areas where farm development activities frequently take place near rivers.

INTERVENTION FROM NATIONAL LAND COUNCIL NECESSARY

Besides tightening the laws, Forestry Department Director-general Datuk Seri Dr Abd Rahman Abd Rahim suggested that the issue of land usage in Kelantan be discussed at the National Land Council level.

The state government will have to accept any decision made through the council and this will also help resolve any issue on land clearing for farming in Ulu Kelantan.

"What's happening in Kelantan now is land development that is uncontrolled and violates guidelines.

"This land issue needs to be discussed at the National Land Council because whatever is decided by the council must be adhered to," he said.

TIME FOR MALAYSIA TO EMPHASISE ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Meanwhile, extreme weather phenomenon such as unusual heavy rainfall in Kelantan last year was a result of climate change, said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's (UKM) Climatology and Oceanography expert Prof Dr Fredolin T. Tangang.

Episodes of extreme weather related to the climate such as massive floods and drought have become more rampant in the region.

Fredolin, who is also Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Work Group 1 vice chairman, said IPCC reports published in 2012 on extreme weather showed the frequency of such incidents around the world.

Therefore, he proposed the government to table a motion on conducting a study with ASEAN countries on climate change and its impact on the region's socio-economy at the ASEAN Summit.

"As Malaysia is hosting the ASEAN Summit, it is time for experts in the country to work with scientists in the region to study climate change," he said.

Through in-depth research, scientists will be able to forecast weather changes in ASEAN and take proactive measures to overcome any disaster, as well as reduce the number of deaths and property loss.

He added that the study would also allow ASEAN to make plans for development and the industry which could reduce negative impact to the environment in the long run.

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by Syed Iylia Hariz Al-Qadri and Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil

This is the fourth and last part series dwelling on the environmental destruction that contributed to the worst floods in Kelantan in three decades.