Detailed flood risk map being drawn up

PETALING JAYA: A comprehensive map detailing every flood-prone district and housing area in the country has been proposed.

The map will be able to identify not only areas prone to floods but also provide detailed information on the type of human activities that take place there, as well as the number of people and homes.

“The country needs a flood risk map,” said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Prof Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo, who proposed it.

“Right now, the Drainage and Irrigation Department has a flood map but not a flood risk map,” he said.

He is a member of a special task force looking at scientific and technological responses to large floods and other natural disasters in the country.

Dr Ibrahim said the task force, along with the newly set up National Disaster Management Agency, were under the Prime Minister’s Department.

Dr Ibrahim, chairman of the South-East Asia Disaster Prevention Research Initiative at UKM, said the task force was a forensic study group formed several months ago.

“Many are unaware that Malaysia is categorised as a country that has low to mid-level risk when it comes to natural disasters.

“This why it is crucial to formulate policies by taking into account the level of natural disaster risks the country is facing,” he said.