UMT vice-chancellor, Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo said the study, known as flood forensics and which began this week, was important to obtain an overall view of the devastating floods.
“Through this study, we will look at the causal factors for the floods and the source of the major devastation, besides the social, economic and destructive environmental impact of the floods.
“We want this to be a study that really can beneficially contribute to the government and nation in preparing a policy and strategy to eliminate or reduce the risk of such massive floods in future,” he told reporters at the Media-UMT Appreciation Night, here, last night.
Ibrahim said the researchers would study the Sungai Kelantan, Sungai Pahang and Sungai Perak basins, which were the biggest river basins in the peninsula and most threatened, besides having different characteristics.
“We will also look at the Sungai Besut and Sungai Kemaman basins, but there will be no in-depth study on the Sungai Terengganu basin as Kuala Terengganu was saved from massive flooding by the existence of the Kenyir Dam.
“The Kenyir Dam is actually a flood mitigating feature for the Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus districts.
“Hence, we will look at the impact of each river basin and this study is expected to take three to four months,” he said.
Ibrahim said the more than 15 researchers from UMT, UKM and National Council of Professors involved would be conducting the field study until February and the results expected to be known by the end of March.
“The study will be divided among four teams, where we will conduct interviews to get the facts, measure water levels and thickness of the mud, look at the load carried by the flood waters like garbage and logs, and from the social aspect, the health level of the flood victims and the trauma caused by the floods, for analysis.”
He said UMT had allocated RM50,000 for this study. However, it also hoped for funding coming from UKM, the National Professors’ Council and others as the study was vital and being done holistically, he added.
— BERNAMA
