Consumers' group wants expert panel to probe into annual floods

 

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is demanding an urgent nationwide probe into why Malaysia’s flood problems remain a perennial issue despite their annual occurrence.

CAP’s president, Mohideen Abdul Kader, urged the government to form an expert committee with representatives from civil society to investigate the underlying causes of the ongoing flood issue and offer solutions.

“The floods, which are increasingly spreading throughout the country and involve the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Selangor, should not be attributed solely to the increase in heavy rainfall.

“Rain is a common phenomenon every year, but how do we deal with it? Floods not only lead to loss of life, damage to property and destruction of agricultural products but also have a major impact on the country’s economy,” he said in a statement today.

Citing data from the Statistics Department’s special report on the impact of floods in Malaysia last year, Mohideen said the country lost an estimated RM933.4 million from floods, while agricultural sector losses rose from RM120.6 million in 2023 to RM185.2 million in 2024.

Kedah floods on Nov 27

Mohideen attributed this loss to the squandering of natural green areas due to deforestation and rapid urban development, which aggravated the recurring floods that plague the country annually.

“The expansion of impermeable surface areas, coupled with narrow drains that cannot accommodate large amounts of rainwater, is the reason for the unending urban floods.

“This will not be the last flood disaster to hit the country. In fact, many residents are worried about what will happen to their homes and surroundings when the rain falls,” Mohideen added.

He said authorities must ensure development is controlled through proper planning, with environmental, drainage, transportation and social impact assessments carried out for every project, along with stricter conditions to protect slopes and hilly land from indiscriminate development.

A landslide in Taman United, Kuala Lumpur, Nov 24

“While we cannot stop the rain, the floods that occur can be prevented or made less destructive if the root causes are addressed,” he said, urging the government to prioritise greening urban spaces and strengthening monitoring of development projects.

Worsening floods

Heavy rainfall over the weekend triggered widespread flooding across the country, with the Social Welfare Department’s Info Bencana portal reporting 18,769 evacuees across eight states.

Kelantan and Selangor recorded the highest number of displaced residents, with 9,729 and 2,784 people relocated to relief centres statewide, respectively.

Fire and Rescue Department personnel rescuing people in Kuala Krai on Nov 26

In the Klang Valley, the downpour caused four landslides and flash floods in several areas, including Shah Alam, Klang, and Puncak Alam. Rising waters also disrupted major highways such as Kesas, NKVE, and Elite, causing significant traffic delays.

Flooding was also reported in Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Pahang, and Terengganu, underscoring the increasingly widespread impact of flash floods. - Mkini