PETALING JAYA: From changing the type of furniture they buy to rethinking daily habits and where they choose to live, young Malaysians are adapting to a new reality where extreme weather events are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
For administrative executive Azatul Afzan Mat Dui, years of dealing with recurring floods have changed the way she manages her home and daily decisions.
Instead of making major changes, Azatul, who is in her early 30s, has focused on practical adjustments to minimise damage whenever floods occur.
“We’ve renovated the house to make it more flood-friendly.
“We’ve installed higher shelves to keep our belongings above the water level. We no longer buy wooden furniture.
“Our bed frame is metal, the wardrobe is metal, and whenever we buy something for the house, we think about whether we can carry it quickly if there’s a flood,” she said.
Although floods have become a regular occurrence in her hometown of Raub, Pahang, since 2020, Azatul admitted her family’s preparations remain basic.
“We’ve packed important documents and keep a small emergency bag with a few clothes ready,” she said.
For 26-year-old marketing executive R. Priya from Cheras, climate concerns have influenced her daily habits in a different way.
While she has not personally experienced flooding, she has become more mindful of managing resources and preparing for disruptions, particularly during extreme heat.
“Honestly, it hasn’t changed where I live or work directly, but I do think twice about things like water usage and energy bills.
“It makes me more conscious of my daily habits rather than (affecting) big life decisions,” she said.
Priya said her main preparation during extreme weather is ensuring access to basic necessities, especially water supply.
“It’s basic necessities that I have to prepare, like water,” she said.
She hopes authorities can provide clearer communication and more consistent action plans on climate risks, including stronger disaster preparedness systems.
For 23-year-old student Matthew Chan from Kuala Lumpur, the increasing frequency of floods has made living on higher ground a major consideration when choosing where to live in the future.
“I would choose to stay in places on higher ground to minimise the risk and always stay alert to announcements and warnings by the authorities on weather changes and potential disasters,” he said.
