PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia braces for any second wave of floods, authorities must learn from their experience of coordinating assistance and post-flood measures in Selangor to make sure that they get it right this time around, say experts.

       Climate expert Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah said the main focus for the authorities should be in Sabah and Sarawak for potential floods that may occur during the cold surge event expected between today and Thursday.

       “The forecast is for a formation of a Borneo vortex in the mid-Borneo side that can sustain mesoscale cloud clusters to sustain rainfall for 24 hours or more,” he said in an interview yesterday.

       The Borneo vortex is manifested as a vortex of air with a comma-shaped rainband in the northeastern sector of the cyclone.

       Floods triggered by days of continuous heavy rain between Dec 17 and 19 have displaced more than 50,000 people across the country, including in the Klang Valley.

       However, Prof Azizan, who is also the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences senior research fellow, said the predicted rainfall would not be as bad as the one that occurred between Dec 17 and 19.

       “The other forecasted rain area is the part of Sabah facing the Sulu Sea,” he said, adding that there would also be regular thunderstorms in Peninsular Malaysia.

       “I expect the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) to update regularly, especially on Wednesday and Thursday, and so should the Drainage and Irrigation Department.

       “This would create an awareness for the public to follow, especially in Sabah and Sarawak as well as those in the east coast,” he said.

       Malaysia, said Prof Azizan, was still in the midst of the La Nina phenomenon, with the country facing between 10% and 20% more rain than usual.

       Universiti Putra Malaysia Department of Environmental and Occupational Health lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Haliza Abdul Samad said authorities must learn from the experience of coordinating assistance and post-flood measures in Selangor to ensure that they get it right this time.

       “The related authorities need to be integrated, efficient and effective in all of their strategies and action. Coordination should be made the main priority to avoid any form of weakness,” she said.

       The respective agencies, added Prof Haliza, must be quick to disseminate information and strengthen the warning system to prepare the public for any eventuality.

       “All the relevant messages regarding any disaster must reach the public quickly, especially via social media,” she added.

       Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (Peka) Malaysia president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said the government must improve or redesign new drainage infrastructure to meet the worsening effects of climate change.

       “The existing flood mitigation efforts by the government have been proven to be just ‘build and no maintenance.’

       “That must change. The government must amend existing forestry laws to protect our forest and stop unethical and illegal logging and mining,” she said.