Malaysia incurs RM7.4 billion losses due to floods

SHAH ALAM - The total loss of damages of properties and public facilities due to floods in Malaysia from 2017 to 2021 reaches RM7.4 billion.

Based on the breakdown by the Malaysia Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) and the Malaysia Statistics Department (DOSM), in 2017, losses were recorded at RM63 million followed by RM44.2 million (2018); RM26.5 million (2019); RM1.15 billion (2020) and RM6.1 billion (2021).

Putra Business School's economic analyst Associate Professor Dr Ahmed Razman Abd Latiff said the total loss was expected to increase every year.

"I expect the amount of losses to continue to increase every year due to several factors such as the increase in the population of the people which will cause more buildings to be built near rivers and hillsides as well as deforestation activities.

"This causes the river sediments to thicken, resulting in the river becoming shallow and easily overflowing beyond the level of the banks," he told Sinar Ahad.

He said the illegal forest reserves activities that was still happening also contributed to the disaster.

"This is added by the country's drainage system which is still unable to cope with the extreme water overflow.

"There must be a comprehensive study on this drainage system, the new housing area must have catchment ponds and areas that can act as water buffers to prevent flooding," he said.

He added that to overcome this loss, the federal government should work with all parties including the state government and local authorities.