Local governance structuring in disaster risk management : the case study of Kajang City, Selangor

Abstract

Flash flood issue is central to Malaysia as it impacted all of its major cities, including Kajang. Compared to monsoonal flood, flash flood event is unpredictable as climate change prolonged. Existing institutions which are in charge of Disaster Risk Management need to re-evaluate and advance their approach and efficiency in managing risk and hazard. Kajang City was selected due to its recurring flood events, high population, rapid development, vulnerabilities of the area, as well as the impact of the disasters on social and economic aspects. The (i) repetitive flood in Kajang; (ii) lack of prevention and preparedness actions; and (iii) low score on resiliency attributes were the main problem arguments of this study. A qualitative approach has been chosen as a method to analyse this issue. Six key persons in charge of Disaster Risk Management were interviewed. They were from the elected official office, Kajang Municipal Council Office, Land and District Office, Selangor Disaster Management Unit, as well as an experienced consultant. Next, the interview output was analysed using thematic mapping, and a few themes and sub-themes has been identified. Findings of this research found that Kajang City needed: (i) an organisational restructuring at Local Governance by establishing a Disaster Risk Management Committee and Relief at the Sub-district level, as well as Climate Change Division at Local Authority; (ii) develop a tailor-made Resilience Action Plan specifically for Kajang City; (iii) introduce a flood insurance programme at high-risk areas; (iv) increase more focus on risk management; (v) build social capital; and (vi) nurture a collaborative leadership across sectors and levels in governmental organisations. All of these will foster a resilience and collective culture while incorporating the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) agenda in land use planning and development programmes; to achieve a timely response, proactive Disaster Risk Management and a comprehensive state of resilience. Proactive measures at the institutional level will set the tone for the whole process of the Disaster Management Cycle. This will not only minimise the government’s and society’s losses but also capable to build back better at a faster rate. Keywords: resilience, disaster, disaster management, disaster risk management, flood