Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri asserted yesterday that the government has ‘agreed in principle’ to build more stormwater management and road tunnels (Smart tunnels) as well as ‘reservoir cities’ similar to the ones in the Netherlands in order to mitigate the severity of floods in Malaysia in the future.
As reported by Malaysiakini, the Prime Minister said that such measures were among 17 short-term and long-term suggestions by the Environment and Water Ministry during a government disaster management committee meeting on Thursday (3 February 2022).
Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri.
Ismail Sabri listed the suggestions in brief during a statement issued yesterday which include:
- Building Smart tunnels in high-density urban areas such as Shah Alam.
- Building ‘resilient’ settlement areas like the ‘sponge cities’ in China, an urban design philosophy where a city allows for more water to be absorbed into the ground that can be filtered for reuse.
- Building ‘reservoir cities’ such as the ones in the Netherlands, using an urban design philosophy in which facilities such as parking spaces and parks can act as emergency water retention ponds during floods.
- Upgrading, widening and deepening major rivers.
- Building more flood barriers.
- Building dams and sluice gate stations.
- Moving high-risk riverside villages to higher ground.
- Managing deforestation.
- Making flood risk assessments compulsory in urban planning proposals.
- Setting up a ‘National Numerical Weather Prediction Centre’
- Setting up an AI-based flood prediction and warning system.
- Setting up a mud flood warning system.
- Upgrading weather observation stations.
For illustration purposes.
Furthermore, short term suggestions to deal with the risk of floods in Malaysia include equipping evacuation centres with showers and bathrooms, and stores to keep basic necessities such as tents and mattresses. School dormitories was also touted to be used as shelters in case of floods.
The Prime Minister would also make state governments and local authorities responsible to ensure that their drainage systems are functioning well.
What do you guys think of the suggestions by the Environment and Water Ministry? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: SMART Tunnel Diverted Over 5 MILLION Cubic Metres Of Water Since Yesterday
