LOCAL authorities, district councils, and state governments must strictly adhere to Malaysia’s Flood Mitigation Master Plan (PITB) when implementing development projects to minimise flood risks, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
“Once the plan is in place, state authorities must act accordingly. Any development that contributes to flooding, particularly those that ignore the parameters set in the PITB, must be avoided,” Fadillah said in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff.
He emphasised that areas identified as unable to handle high rainfall must not be further developed.
“If development continues in these areas, the flood risk will increase. That is why close collaboration between district councils, local authorities, state governments, and the federal level is crucial.
”Once the guidelines are established, all planning must follow them so that flood risks can be minimised,” he said.
Fadillah also highlighted that the number of PITB plans will continue to grow based on plan validity, land use changes, population growth, and the frequency and intensity of rainfall.
“Currently, there are 14 PITB plans in the East Coast region, while Sabah and Sarawak have 12 PITB plans that have been implemented or are in progress,” he said.
He further outlined that 140 River Basin Management (RTB) projects have been approved, covering both new initiatives and extensions of existing works.
“In the East Coast, 29 projects valued at RM9.377 billion have been identified and are at various stages of execution. In Sabah, 15 projects worth RM1.49 billion, and in Sarawak, 10 projects valued at RM3.34 billion are also underway at different stages,” Fadillah noted.
To mitigate flood risks, particularly in low-lying areas, he said the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) has deployed 606 mobile pumping units nationwide.
“These include both state and federal JPS assets, aimed at accelerating water removal during periods of sustained heavy rainfall,” he added.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s remarks underline the government’s commitment to integrating flood mitigation into development planning, ensuring that infrastructure expansion does not exacerbate the country’s vulnerability to climate-related flooding. - March 2, 2026
