KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 – Kelantan,Terengganu, Penang and Johor are expected to be affected by worse floods in the next few months.
Dr Renard Siew, Climate Change Advisor to the Centre For Governance and Political Studies (CENT-GPS) said that the floods currently affecting Kuala Lumpur are “in every way connected to climate change”.
Siew said that though the rains are seasonal, it must be collectively recognised that the storms are now stronger than ever, with heavier rainfall and the damages caused by the storms are costlier.
“In the next few weeks, floods are expected to hit Kelantan and Terengganu.
“By the end of next month, we are predicting that the flooding in Penang will get worse.
“For low land areas in Johor, we predict the floods will arrive in December or early January,” he said in a statement.
Dr Siew further explained that the use of fossil fuel energy would cause the Earth’s temperature to rise, which will in turn cause Antartica to melt.
This he said will contribute to the rise of sea levels, and the increase in volume of water means the storms that form over seas, will be much stronger.
As Malaysia is right next to the Southern Pacific, it is especially prone to this such storms.
“Early last year, the Penang state government suffered a horrendous rain storm. With floods, and disrupted roads, the country spent over RM33 million in damages, just to assist the Penang state.
“These costs will be substantially multiplied in the next few months, for multiple states,” he added.
Dr Siew also predicted between 10 and 15 per cent drop in crop yields, due to the expected storm.
“It is important that we recognize that the storms are getting stronger. This is the future we will be living in, if mitigation efforts are not further prioritised,” he said, adding that this is the repercussion which scientists have long warned about.
