KUALA LUMPUR: He parked his car at a roadside parking lot in the heart of the city one evening as dark clouds began to form overhead.
Not thinking too much about it, 56-year-old businessman Rahman Aziz went ahead with his duties for the day and attended a meeting at a nearby office complex.
As he entered the building, he heard strong winds blowing and it began to pour heavily.
An hour later, an administrative staff member began asking whether anyone had parked in the parking lot opposite their building.
“I remember how anxious the person sounded and when I saw the situation for myself, I understood why.
“Floodwaters rose rapidly, and I could see that the tyres and engine of my multi-purpose vehicle were completely submerged,” he said as he recalled the incident from 2022.
When the rain finally subsided, Rahman realised how severe the situation was.
“The car couldn’t start, and all its seats and electronic systems were damaged,” he said.
As his vehicle did not have special perils coverage, Rahman’s only option was to pay for the repairs out of his own pocket.
“The damage amounted to about RM60,000, and repairs took about six months to complete.
“I tried selling the car, but used car dealers rejected it once they found out it was damaged by floods,” he said.
According to the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM), only 13% of motor insurance policies had flood cover under the special perils coverage last year.
During the same period, there was only a 27% take-up rate for flood cover under fire insurance for property.
“If they are not protected against floods, any losses will cost them money. This is the kind of situation we do not want Malaysians to face,” said PIAM chief executive officer Chua Kim Soon during a recent media briefing.
Chua advised those with properties and vehicles to review whether their insurance policies have adequate cover against floods.
“Those with properties on hillsides or slopes are also advised to check if they have coverage for incidents or landslips.
“If you are unclear about what your policy covers, please contact your insurers to seek clarity,” he said.
According to Chua, those without coverage for special perils can also seek to add them midway.
He said flood extension coverage remains relatively affordable, with the additional premium for a house valued at RM100,000 costing less than RM90.
For motor vehicles valued at RM100,000, the additional premium ranges from RM150 to RM500, depending on the coverage selected.
PIAM, he said, also encourages motorists to only seek towing assistance through their official insurers.
“This reduces exposure to unauthorised tow-truck operators and potential scams, especially when motorists need help following flood-related incidents or accidents,” he said.
