Surge in flood-prone areas in Sarawak tied to rural-urban shift, infrastructure boom

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, July 8: The rise in flood-prone areas across Sarawak has been partly attributed to infrastructure development driven by increasing migration from rural areas to major urban centres in the State.

According to a TVS and Ukas news report, Deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Sarawak, Desmond Douglas Jerukan, noted that in the 1970s, Kuching’s population was fewer than 100,000.

“However, by 2025, the latest figures show a significant demographic shift, with rural-to-urban migration increasing by up to 50 per cent. This has resulted in a 60:40 ratio between urban and rural populations,” he said.

He explained that the expansion of infrastructure in tandem with this urban growth has, to some extent, contributed to the growing number of flood-prone locations in Sarawak.

Desmond made these remarks while delivering the opening address at the Technical Seminar on “Improving Flood Control in Stormwater Drainage Systems for Sarawak: Current Status, Challenges and Capabilities”, held at a hotel here today.

Drawing on his experience handling flood, landslide, and thunderstorm (FLIRT) incidents in areas such as Tubau, Sri Aman, and Bintulu, he underscored the urgent need for a more effective and responsive disaster management system, one powered by real-time data and advanced technology.

He expressed hope that the seminar would serve as a platform for knowledge sharing in both technical and management aspects, paving the way toward effective flood mitigation strategies in Sarawak.

He also affirmed the ministry’s readiness to consider proposals arising from the seminar, with input from representatives of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), for potential inclusion in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).

“Therefore, I hope today’s discussions will not only be technical in nature but also result in practical solutions that can be translated into real projects,” he said. Desmond also called on all stakeholders to view flood mitigation not merely as a technical challenge, but also as a crucial component of socioeconomic development and environmental protection.

Organised by the Technological Association Malaysia (TAM) Sarawak Branch in collaboration with BIMAGE Consulting (M) Sdn Bhd, the seminar attracted over 115 participants. These included officers from the Sarawak Public Works Department (JKR) and representatives from private firms such as Weida Sdn Bhd, Group Engineers Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Wenhong Plastic Sdn Bhd, and Jurutera Jasa.

As Sarawak continues to urbanise and grapple with the intensifying impacts of extreme weather events, the need for resilient, data-driven flood management systems has become increasingly urgent.

The seminar brought together key stakeholders from regulatory bodies, industry, academia, professional associations, and technology providers to deliberate on issues related to flood control and sewer infrastructure in the State.

Discussions explored technical and policy challenges while examining how digital infrastructure, such as simulation modelling, live analytics, and Building Information Modelling (BIM) integration, can enhance the planning and management of Sarawak’s water infrastructure systems. — DayakDaily

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