Institutional arrangements for flood hazard management in Malaysia : An evaluation using the criteria approach

• Published in: Disasters Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 206 - 222
• Main Author: Chan, N W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell 01.09.1997; Malden, MA Pergamon Press
• Subjects: Attitude; Disaster Planning - organization & administration; Disaster relief; Disasters; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Efficiency, Organizational; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental protection; Exact sciences and technology; Floods; Humans; Hydrology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Malaysia; Natural disasters; Natural hazards: prediction, damages, etc; Organizational Culture; Public Policy; Risk; Threat; Far East; Malaysia; floods; environment protection; Asia; management; national policy; natural disasters; economic data; spatial distribution
• ISSN: 0361-3666; 1467-7717
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-7717.00057

Institutional aspects of flood hazards significantly affect their outcomes in Malaysia. Institutional arrangements to deal with floods include: legislative activity, organisational structures, attitudes and sub-culture, and policies and instruments. When assessed in terms of four specific criteria, institutional aspects of flood hazards are found to be largely inadequate. Disaster reduction programmes are over-dependent on a reactive approach based largely on technology and not even aimed at floods specifically. Structural flood reduction measures are the predominant management tool and, although the importance of non-structural measures is recognised, thus far they have been under-employed. Current laws and regulations with regard to flood management are also insufficient and both the financial and human resources of flood hazard organisations are generally found to be wanting. Finally, economic efficiency, equity and public accountability issues are not adequately addressed by institutional arrangements for flood hazards.