PROGRESS REPORT ON FLOOD HAZARD MAPPING ACTIVITIESIN MALAYSIA
Personal Data
Name:
Organisation:
Present Post:
E.mail:PARIDAH ANUN BINTI TAHIR
DEPARTMENT OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE
MALAYSIASENIOR DIRECTOR
paridah_a@water.gov.my

1.

Item A: FHM- related situation in Malaysia

1.1

Current situation of FHM in Malaysia
Current stage of FHM in Malaysia is as below:•••••••

1.2

Type A – Maps without inundation areas and not including elevation data
are available for the whole country either for administrative and touristpurpose.
Type B – Maps without inundation areas including elevation data are
available for the whole country and known as topographical map with scale
1:50,000 but for West Malaysia 1:25,000.
Type C – Maps showing past inundation areas of a single past flood (e.g.
maximum flood) are available for the whole country for flood up to year
2000. Other flood maps available certain areas in the country especially forflooding in 2006 and 2007.
Type D – Maps showing past inundation areas of several large floods withcorresponding rainfalls, available for some river basins where floodmitigations studies have been carried out.
Type E – Map showing past inundation past areas based on simulation (e.g.
design flood is the biggest flood) is in progress.
Type F– Map based on inundation analyses showing inundation areas of thedesign flood bigger than past flood already available for Damansara riverand these maps are being prepared through flood mitigation studies forJohor rivers
Type G – Map based on inundation analysis, indication forecast by real time
analysis is still being prepared for Klang River.
Current Situation of FHM
The government has agreed that all development must first refer to the Floodrisk maps or flood hazard maps and if found to be in a flood prone or floodrisk area ,carry out flood mitigation works such that the risk of floods in thearea is not increased. As such, it is in the Government’s planning to prepare
flood risk or flood hazard maps for the country to enable local authorities
control and manage development in flood risk areas. As a start, maps of floodprone areas of the whole country has been distributed to the local authorities
while preparation of flood hazard maps based on inundation analysis has been
started for Damansara catchment and Johor catchment.

1.3Good Practices in FHM
Three good practices in FHM that should be carried out by implementers are:i)Collection of information immediately after a flood event, especiallyon flood properties and behaviour such as flood extent, flood depth, durationof floods, direction of flood flows and velocities. This information will be
useful for calibration of hydrological and hydraulical analysis. Other
information such as danger spots, evacuation centres, flood operations andissues must be noted and taken into account when hazard maps are prepared.
ii)
Good networking with all necessary agencies and communities. Thiswill ease the distribution of flood hazard maps and awareness programmes.
iii)
Be prepared and carry out FHM as soon as possible. To do thisplanning must be made for finance and capacity building,

1.4

Target stage of FHM
The target stage of FHM is to have:-.
••••

Type B – Maps for the whole country with larger scale to easepreparation for any scale.
Type C – These maps must be prepared automatically after each flood
as a good documentation. .
Type D – These maps will be required for any flood mitigation studies,
necessary for hydrological and hydraulic analysis.
Type E – For long term, the target is to have such maps for the wholecountry especially for the flood prone areas. For short term only 5-10
Map will be prepared per year

The desirable target is to have the following maps.
•Type F– The target is to have such maps for the whole country forevacuation and land use control.
•Type G – Target for major towns especially for flood forecasting andwarning.
2.

Production of FHM

2.1

Institutional responsibilities
FHM related law, government system or organisation to produce FHM is still
non-existent in Malaysia. However, one of the core functions of theDepartment of Irrigation and Drainage is flood mitigation. Since 1971, theDID had carried out flood mitigation works through structural measures,
published stormwater guidelines and also carried out flood monitoring,
forecasting and warnings. The role of non-structural is important incomplementing flood mitigation and FHM will be one of the measures tomake communities less vulnerable and aware of impending floods. Thus DID
will be championing the making of FHM.
2.2

Availability of Data
Hydrological data such as rainfall and water level is available for most river
basins in the country at DID. These data are from manual or automatic stations.
There are also some stations with telemetry facilities. .
Topography data is available from the Survey Department in the form ofhardcopy and digital.

2.3

Problems in making FHM includes••••

Uncertainties on accuracies required
Trained people to carry out FHM as some movement has taken place.
Elevation data especially in the flood plain areas.
Funds limited and committed to existing projects

3.

Dissemination of FHM

3.1

Institutional responsibilities
As in 2.1, FHM will be disseminated by DID with the help of local authorities.

3.2

Problems of dissemination
It is foreseen the main problem will be the acceptance of FHM by authorities
and communities as there is still no experience in FHM.

3.3

Other uses of FHM
FHM can be used for:••••Planning of flood mitigation works
Location of important building and utilities
Providing or improving emergency facilities such as evacuation centres,sirens etc
Training for engineers

Item B: Improvement of FHM research by ICHARM
1.1

Saturation level of TV, Radio, Internet and Newspaper(Useful official info and data)
Official data on saturation level of television, radio, internet and newspaper is
not available.

1.2

The flow of information related to evacuation in flood
The flow of information is described as in Fig.1 attached.

1.3

Awareness level for disaster prevention by residents

Awareness level of the seriousness of flood among the communities is quite
high as more areas with larger extent with higher frequencies are being
flooded every year. However communities are still reluctant to vacate theirhomes and belongings and wait until the authority in charge gives order tomove.
Historically flooding in the rural areas rises slowly and communities will
monitor the flooding condition. The communities will only move if there is athreat to their lives or families. .

2. “Flood hazard Map Manual by ICHARM

Comments to guidelines as attached.