Floods in Malaysia

Floods in Malaysia are regular natural disasters in Malaysia which happen nearly every year during the monsoon season.

Events

*May 1971 - Kuala Lumpur hit by flash floods.
*2 March 2006 - Shah Alam hit by flash floods.
*19 December 2006 - Several parts of Johor state including Muar, Johor Bahru, Skudai and Segamat were hit by flash floods. (Source: Utusan Malaysia, 20 December 2006)
*10 January 2007 - Several parts of Johor were hit by flash floods again. (Source: Utusan Malaysia, 11 January 2007)
*10 June 2007 - Kuala Lumpur hit by flash floods, worse since 10 June 2003.
*December 2007 – Several parts of East Coast of peninsula including Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor were hit by flash floods.

Causes

*Given Malaysia's geographical location, most floods that occur are a natural result of cyclical monsoons during the local tropical wet season that are characterised by heavy and regular rainfall from roughly October to March.
*Inadequate drainage in many urban areas also enhance the effects of heavy rain, though efforts are underway to resolve this (see below).
*Floods in Southern Johor was believed due to recent Global Warming effect. This is because Johor is not within the usual monsoon affected zone.

DID flood stations

List of flash floods areas in Malaysia

Klang Valley and Selangor

*Along Klang River in Klang Valley
**Kuala Lumpur city centre near Masjid Jamek
**Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur

*Along Gombak River in Klang Valley
*Along Kerayong River in Kuala Lumpur
**Sungai Besi near Razak Mansion

*Along Damansara River in Shah Alam
**From Taman TTDI Jaya, Giant Hypermarket, Shah Alam Stadium until Batu Tiga.

Perak

Penang

*Seberang Jaya Interchange underpass on Butterworth-Kulim Expressway near Carrefour Seberang Jaya

Kedah

*Along Muda River
*Kepala Batas near Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, Alor Star

Perlis

Kelantan

*Along Kelantan River in Kelantan
**Tambatan Diraja, Kuala Krai
**Tangga Krai, Kuala Krai

Terengganu

*Dungun River
*Terengganu River near Kuala Berang
*Besut River

Pahang

*Pahang River from Temerloh to Pekan town
*Kuantan River in Kuantan

Negeri Sembilan

Gemas

Melaka

*Kesang River

Johor

*Along Sungai Air Molek in Johor Bahru
**From Johor Bahru Prison, Federal Building (Wisma Persekutuan), Tabung Haji Building, JOTIC, Dewan Jubli Intan, until Court Building near Istana Besar.

*Skudai River in Johor Bahru

*Along Tebrau River in Johor Bahru
**Kampung Kangkar Tebrau

*Johor River near Kota Tinggi
*Along Sungai Benut from Simpang Renggam to Benut
*Sungai Simpang Kiri and Sungai Simpang Kanan in Batu Pahat
*Along Semberong River in Batu Pahat
*Segamat River near Segamat
*Along Muar River from Segamat to Muar district

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arawak

:"(Source:Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia)"

Complacency Effect

As a result of flooding which is aggravated in La Nina years like 2008, a sense of complacency sets in amongst Malaysians who should be preparing for the more frequent El Nino years when dry or drought conditions are commonly experienced. Added to this is the growing thirst of Malaysia's growing population. Water saving measures should be planned in advance including possibly taxes on private swimming pools, spas, jacuzzis and bathtubs to encourage people to use only showers for bathing. Water saving devices could be installed in all water taps. Industrial and commercial water users could be taxed or fined for wasting water or inefficient water use. The sale and use of fountains could be banned. More water storage facilities could be built in anticipation of drought-like conditions. Tax incentives could be given to property developers to build water storage facilities. More man-made reservoirs could be dug. De-salination plants could be built in coastal areas near major cities like Kuala Lumpur / Port Klang, Penang, Melaka and Johor Bahru. Recycling of sewage water by membrane filtration should be looked into. The Malaysian Army could have a new fleet of drinking water trucks that can reach remote drought stricken areas.

External links

* [http://www.water.gov.my Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia]
* [http://www.kjc.gov.my Malaysian Meteological Services]
* [http://infobanjir.water.gov.my/ Infobanjir @ DID Malaysia]
* [http://infobanjir.water.gov.my/realtime.htm Latest Malaysian flood info]