Dykes and sand dunes will prevent floods

THE Government has taken numerous actions, relentlessly, to mitigate floods and to save the east coast states (Kelantan and Terengganu), as well as Penang and Kedah, from floods. But it appears to have been in vain. At the end of the day, these actions have not worked.

Our weatherman can predict the weather, but bear in mind that nobody can fight nature and so it will rain cats and dogs, despite what is reported by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

In fact, what has been done so far to mitigate floods and to reduce the severity of floods in the east coast states and Penang does not appear to have helped to keep the floods away at all. Instead, the floods in Kelantan have worsened – as they have in Penang.

Perhaps these works were not “concrete” enough to tackle the kind of floods hitting these places.

The Government should change their plans to save those places from getting flooded again, once and for all. They should know by now that it is no use to continue doing flood mitigation jobs. It is a waste of time and taxpayers’ monies – let alone putting people in fear, agony and restless nights whenever it (the rain) pours down like waterfalls.

We have studied in geography that the Netherlands (Holland) stands below sea level and yet it is never flooded, even during a heavy rainstorm.

Why? They have built concrete dykes and sand dunes around the low-lying lands and river banks in the Netherlands to prevent rising sea water from rushing inland during high tide.

Also, it will drain excess water inland out to sea. That’s why there are many windmills in Holland. Yes! They are using the windmills to pump water out into the sea. This is a good and effective way to keep floodprone areas in Malaysia free from flooding in the long term.

A report from international weathermen said that some low-lying lands and river banks in Malaysia will be under water in another 10 to 20 years’ time – places like Melaka, Klang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Johor.

So, parts of Malaysia are vulnerable, or rather prone, to severe flooding. It is also expensive to carry out mitigation works on and off, a yearly affair of sorts.

All these mitigation works are costly as it will eventually add up, yet there is no end to the problem.

The solution is to pay to build dykes and sand dunes that will put a stop to flooding once and for all.

In the long run, it would be a savings for the country, if the Government starts building dykes and sand dunes in states and low-lying lands and river banks which are affected by floods.

The dykes and sand dunes can prevent high tides from hitting inland when it is raining cats and dogs continuously in the area.

Thereafter, the dykes and sand dunes will keep the country on safe ground, or rather, from being submerged in water in the next 10 to 20 years.

That is a good investment for the future.