Challenging Practice: Post-flood Disaster Assessment in Malaysia

 Introduction 

The thought of future associated with climate change is often described as complicated and uncertain. It is generally understood that climate change requires greater adaptability and localise responses. In the case of Malaysia, flood disasters are predicted to become more frequent and uncertain within a climate-changed future. This is particularly concerning with the challenges presented to architectural practice in Malaysia in responding towards adaptation measures from extreme weather impacts.

The Malaysian National Security Council defines disaster as an incident that occurs in a sudden manner, complex in its nature, causes losses of lives, damages to property or natural environment and has a profound effect to local activities.

The study is based on fieldworks conducted in Kota Tinggi, Johor and Kuala Krai, Kelantan between December 2014 and January 2016, at a time that coincides with the Kelantan flood in December 2014; a disaster that was recorded unprecedented in Malaysian history. Thus, this situation calls for acute measures from different bodies and agencies for post-flood actions, including architectural responses to help victims rebuild their lives and reconstruct spatial environment.

 Mapping the post-flood events 

The research poster maps and outlines the chronology of flood disasters and its aftermath, documented during the fieldworks to represent the various parties involved. Mapping is used as a main tool in the research to understand and compare the frameworks of ‘recovery and response’ for two different scenarios (Kota Tinggi and Kuala Krai), emphasizes on phases of post-flood events affecting the victims.

Initial review of both scenarios suggests that the post-flood framework within Kuala Krai is more complex due to involvement from large groups of private organisations and public agencies, at different phases compared to the case in Kota Tinggi. Therefore, these active participations in Kuala Krai demonstrate an increasing level of preparedness and awareness on flood issues and its implications within the local context.

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