Proposal ReportOn
Flood Hazard Mapping Project
InMuar and Batu Pahat, Johor

Prepared By
Azah Azura Ali AmranRosly Aman
Department of Irrigation and DrainageMalaysia

FLOOD HAZARD MAPPING TRAINING COURSE
JFY 2008

1.0

Background

Flooding is the most significant natural hazard in Malaysia in terms ofpopulation affected, frequency, area extent, flood duration and social economic
damage. Having 189 river basins throughout Malaysia, including Sabah andSarawak, the rivers and their corridors of flood plains fulfil a variety of functions
both for human use and for the natural ecosystem, i.e. they are fundamental partsof the natural, economic, and social system wherever they occur. At the same time,
rivers might be the largest threat to entire corridor areas.
Flood management aims to reduce the likelihood and the impact of floods.
This includes the management of flood disaster and relief, during and after flood.
Experience has shown that the most effective approach is through the developmentof flood management programs incorporating a holistic approach with respect to thefollowing strategies:
i. Prevention - preventing damage caused by floods by avoiding constructionof houses, properties and industries in present and future flood-prone
areas; by adapting future developments to the risk of flooding; and bypromoting appropriate land-use, agricultural and forestry practices;
ii. Protection - taking measures, both structural and non-structural, toreduce the likelihood and the impact of floods in a specific location;iii. Preparedness - informing the public about flood risks and what to do in
the event of a flood;
iv. Emergency response – developing emergency response plans and actions
in case of a flood; andv. Recovery and lessons learned - returning to normal conditions as soon as
possible and mitigating both the social and economic impacts on theaffected population.
Thus, the production of Flood Hazard Map (FHM) is an alternative andnecessary way to reduce the impact of floods in the affected area. Considering thatthe government is looking for an effective way to reduce the flood’s impact withmuch lesser amount of cost, a FHM is able to provide the public with substantial
information on the range of possible damage and the disaster prevention activities.
The production of this map will give much benefit not only to the public but also tothe government. In addition of being able to make public be prepared for flood, thegovernment also can reduce the spending of money especially during the emergency
rescue stage as many affected residents are already evacuating themselves when
given warning or evacuation order.

2.0

Outline of Muar and Batu Pahat Area

The target areas for this FHM are Muar and Batu Pahat District. Bothdistricts are located at the upper north of Johor Bahru. In December 2006 andJanuary 2007, these areas and all other districts in Johor Bahru have been hit byflood that caused extensive damages in term of life and properties. This flood wasdue to a couple of “abnormally” heavy rainfall events which caused massive floods.
Figure 2 shows the Isohyet Map for three consecutive days in Johor Bahru. The
estimated total cost of these flood disasters is RM 1.5 billion, considered as the most
costly flood events in Malaysian history. Recent urbanization amplifies the cost ofdamage in infrastructures, bridges, roads, agriculture and private commercial andresidential properties. At the peak of that recent Johor flood, around 110,000 people
were evacuated and sheltering in relief centers and the death toll was 18 persons.

PULAU TIOMANNEGERISEMBILANPAHANGSEGAMATSEGAMATMELAKAMERSINGMERSINGMUAR
MUAR

KLUANGKLUANG
LAUT
LAUT CHINA
CHINA
LAUT
CHINA
CHINA
LAUT
CHINA
LAUT
LAUT
SELATANSELATANSELATANSELATANSELATANBATU PAHAT
PAHAT
BATU

KOTA TINGGITINGGI
KOTA

SSSSS

EEEEE

LLLLL

AAA

JOHOR BAHRU
BAHRU
JOHOR
TTTT
MMMMEEE

PONTIANPONTIANLLLLLLAAAKKKKAAAASINGAPURA

Figure 1: Location of Muar and Batu Pahat District

122303543133

Figure 2 : Isohyet Maps from i)18-20 December 2006 and i)11-13 January 2007
for Johor Bahru
In Muar and Batu Pahat alone, 36,052 and 66,491 people have to be
evacuated from their house and the estimated cost of damages is RM 214 million.
Muar district formerly covers 2346.12 km², with a population of 328,695 (2000).
Muar River Basin is consists of Muar River and several others small tributaries.
The worst affected area is Pagoh. Muar is home to several famous historical places
that commemorate the establishment of Malaysia. Due to this flood, many of thepreservation areas have been badly damaged.

Figure 3: Muar River Basin
Meanwhile, Batu Pahat covers 1872.56 km² with population of 538 880 (2007).
During 2006 and 2007 flood, this area has been inundated for more than two weeks

due to its low land topography. Many of the residents in this area cannot return totheir home as it was badly damaged. It took almost a month for them to stay in theevacuation centers. Subsequently, government has come out with immediate action
plan to mitigate the flood but unfortunately, the structural countermeasure ispreferred more than non-structural countermeasures. Therefore, it is a vital time tostart introduces the FHM as a way of flood prevention.
3.0

Schedule of Implementation

As FHM has been introduced to the Government of Malaysia in 2004,
therefore several major actions have been completed throughout the years. For
instance, flood disaster management policies i.e. Operation Procedure No. 29
published by the National Security Council and Department of Irrigation andDrainage (DID) Circular No. 2/2003 – “Guidelines for Management of Flood
Disasters during the Monsoon Season and Flash Floods”have been established bythe government. Then a specific unit, Non-Structural Unit under DID, that handled
matters regarding FHM has also been set up. Hence it make the next action ofproducing FHM is much easier to be executed. Below is the schedule ofimplementation of FHM in Muar and Batu Pahat area:
Table 3-1 Action Plan toward Effective Flood Hazard MapYearAction
1. Promotion of FHM- Presentation to the FHM Committee- Generation of ideas between related
agencies- Acquire consent from the decision makeri.e. Economy Planning Unit, Ministry ofFinance
2. Production of FHM- Carry out dialogue with the stakeholders
to get an initial view from various
perspectives- Conduct survey/town watching etc. tocollect crucial data on site – possible
evacuation route, evacuation center,
dangerous spots, etc- Carry out survey/interview with residents

2008

2009

2010

in the affected areas for their early view toensure the effectiveness of FHM- Carry out inundation analysis to getinundation map of the target areas- Produce a simple, easy to understandFHM but with enough significant data
- Present draft to the committee forapproval- Acquire endorsement from various
agencies to be publicly distributed
3. Dissemination of FHM to the public- Identify mechanism of dissemination ofFHM i.e. media, internet, newspaper,campaign, pamphlet etc- Assign district/municipal government asperson in-charge- Provide residents with enougheducation/information of FHM- Conduct routine briefing/explanation tothe residents to create awareness- Provide assistance to thedistrict/municipal government i.e. budget,manpower etc.
4. Improvement of FHM- Develop and improve technique indeveloping flood hazard map.
- Review the approach in developing flood
hazard and dissemination.
- To review the effectiveness of FHM interms of reducing cost of damages/loss oflife.

4.0

Estimated BudgetFor the purpose of production and promotion of FHM, budget will come froman annual fiscal budget of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage. Total amountof budget is MYR 320,000 (about USD 88,400) as shown in Table 4-1.
Table 4-1 Estimated Cost of Production and Dissemination of FHM
Item
1.

Task

Cost Estimate (MYR)

Promotion of FHM

2.

- Training Courses

50,000- Seminar/Conferences

20,000- Materials

5,000

Production of FHM

3.

- Survey/Town Watching

70,000- Data Collection/Acquirement

30,000- Modelling Software/Programs

10,000- Map Publishing

100,000

Dissemination of FHM

4.

- Dissemination

30,000

Improvement of FHM

5,000
TOTAL

5.0

320,000

Expected EffectivenessThe expected effectiveness of Flood Hazard Map in Muar and Batu Pahat
are as follows:i.
ii.

Provide the residents with information on the range of possible
damage and the disaster prevention activities;
To be used as a basic material that can be utilized to provide disasterprevention service;

iii.
iv.
v.

As a tools to establish a warning system and the evacuation system;
As a planning purposes, to give immediate information on the safest
site for new developments, andAs a technical support to the Director of State Security Department
for issuing the evacuation order / recommendation order.