KUCHING: Sarawak is moving towards a more data-driven and technology-based approach in managing natural disasters such as floods, landslides and thunderstorms, in preparation for its next development blueprint under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Desmond Douglas Jerukan said the state’s experience in dealing with recurring FLIRT incidents (flood, landslide, lightning, and thunderstorms) shows that a reactive approach is no longer sufficient.
He cited personal experiences managing disaster responses in Tubau, Sri Aman and Bintulu, highlighting systemic gaps that require urgent upgrades.
“I was once the officer in charge of Tubau and had to manage flood incidents at SK Bukit, which is located atop a mountain.
“In Sri Aman, we had to report flood statuses hourly for 24 hours to the state authorities and National Security Council during a major flood event in 2010,” he said.
He said this in his speech during the opening of the seminar on ‘Improving Flood Control in Stormwater Systems for Sarawak: Current Status, Challenges and Capabilities’ at Imperial Hotel here today.
Desmond noted that as Sarawak nears the end of 12MP and begins planning 13MP, the state must prioritise community resilience, digital infrastructure, and people-centric development.
“This seminar is timely, as the ideas and solutions shared today can feed directly into the policy and project planning of 13MP,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond viewing flood control as a purely technical issue, and instead adopt a holistic lens that incorporates socio-economic development and environmental sustainability.
The one-day seminar, co-organised by the ministry and its strategic partners, brought together key stakeholders from the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU), technical agencies, local authorities and industry players.
Discussions centred around hydrological modelling, technology innovation, and cross-sector partnerships to strengthen flood management and drainage systems statewide.
