Floods: Malaysia expected to face third wave of high tide in January, February, says DID

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is forecasted to face the third phase of the high tide phenomenon from Jan 2 to 5 and from Jan 18 to 21 followed by Jan 31 to Feb 3.

Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Water Resources Management and Hydrology Division director Ir Azmi Ibrahim said the seawater level would be at its highest level, which could cause flooding during major high tides.

"(Major high tides) would submerge low-lying areas if no protection is put in place,” he said in a programme “Malaysia Petang Ini” aired over Bernama TV on Monday (Jan 3).

He said among the usual protection measures is to build a barrage along the coast to prevent the major high tide from causing floods in coastal areas.

"But the situation would become worse if the river water level is high due to heavy rain, so the river water could not flow into the sea and would in fact clash with high seawater level which could result in big floods,” he said.

Earlier, DID reported a major high tide phenomenon occurring over four days from today until Wednesday involving high-risk areas such as Kuala Muda in Kedah, Bagan Datuk (Perak), Klang, Kuala Langat, Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor in Selangor, as well as Batu Pahat and Pontian in Johor. - Bernama