JOHOR BARU: The Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has been urged to lead a workshop involving the federal, state and local governments to develop long-term solutions to curb flash floods.
Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pic) said a key challenge was to create a comprehensive development plan that could accommodate increasing water volumes.
“The current planning does not consider the existing capacity of our drainage systems, which were designed based on outdated plans. We must take into account the rising rainfall and ongoing developments.
“Therefore, I have suggested that DID initiate a workshop involving all sectors of development to explore ways to mitigate the risk of flash floods.
“Although this will require significant financial investment from the government, we need to begin somewhere,” he said.
Fadillah, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said this in a speech at the launching of the DID Innovation Day and the Senior Managers and District Engineers Conference 2024 at a hotel here yesterday.
Fadillah said the federal, state and local governments should coordinate their efforts to identify flash flood hotspots under the National Physical Planning Council or the National Water Council.
“We can start with the state and local governments before presenting our solutions to the Housing and Local Government Ministry. This approach could help us create a 10-year plan to address and improve our drainage and sewerage systems,” he added.Fadillah emphasised the need for proper coordination as there were gaps in jurisdiction where issues remain unaddressed.
“This creates a loophole where no one takes action,” he explained.
In a video presentation, DID revealed that more than RM18.1bil in losses had been recorded due to floods from 1963 to 2020, affecting 10.4 million people.The department has also been allocated RM2.6bil under the 12th Malaysia Plan this year to undertake 296 development projects.
During the programme, Fadillah said securing Malaysia’s water supply for the future relied on smart technologies and digitalisation.He said the government wants to strengthen and transform the water sector to ensure sustainable water resources in Malaysia.
Fadillah said these efforts should establish the nation as a “dynamic water hub”, contributing to economic growth by creating new job opportunities and driving research, development, innovation and commercialisation in water sustainability.
“We must focus on research and development to ensure our country remains competitive, particularly in technical expertise.
“Innovation is crucial in generating ideas that benefit both the public and industry,” Fadillah added.
