Hydroclimate data projection can assist country's preparedness for flood risks

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) -- Hydroclimate data projection up to the year 2100, especially rainfall data, can assist the government's early planning and preparedness to reduce the risk of future flood disasters, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the data was obtained through the hydroclimate projection information system and portal which is the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM)-Hydroclimate Data Analysis Accelerator (N-HyDAA) which were developed in 2016 by applying Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) technology.

“For example, the NHyDAA hydro climate projection model is able to detect the forecast of a relatively heavy rain episode in the northern area of the country including in the area of Gunung Jerai, Kedah in August 2021.

“This includes the extraordinary floods which hit Peninsular Malaysia, the Klang Valley and the east coast states in December 2021, as well as the mud flood that occurred on July 4, 2022, in Kg Iboi, Kupang, Kedah,”  he said.

He said this in his reply to a question from Che Alias Hamid (PN-Kemaman) regarding the use of IR4.0 technology to reduce the risk of flood disasters in the future as well as the list of hotspot areas which have installed early warning systems for flood disasters.

Nik Nazmi said that phase one of the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme (PRAB) involving the Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang river basins, has been operational since 2017 while phase two, involving 38 river basins nationwide, is expected to be completed in stages and will be fully operational in 2025.

He added that PRAB is an early flood forecasting programme with the implementation of the National Flood Forecasting and Warning System (NaFFWS) which detects rainfall and water levels in real time.

In addition, he said that the government is also developing 526 flood warning siren stations in stages to be placed in hotspot locations nationwide.

He said out of that number, a total of 117 siren stations are placed in Sabah, Selangor (99), Johor (45), Pahang (40), Kedah (38), 28 each in Perak and Kelantan, Penang (27), Kuala Lumpur (24), Sarawak (23), Negeri Sembilan (21), Melaka (13), Perlis (12), Terengganu (10) and one in Labuan.

-- BERNAMA