ISSN 2348-1218 (print) International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 2, Issue 4, pp: (59-65), Month: October - December 2014, Available at: www.researchpublish.com Page | 59 Research Publish Journals FLOODS IN MALAYSIA Historical Reviews, Causes, Effects and Mitigations Approach 1 Sani G. D/iya, 2 Muhd BarzaniGasim, 3 Mohd EkhwanToriman, 4 Musa G. Abdullahi East Coasts Environmental Research Institute, University Sultan Zainal Abiden, Kuala Terengganu Malaysia. Abstract: Flood is the most devastating natural disaster experienced in Malaysia is flood. Throughout Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak, there is total of 189 river basins (89 of the river basins are in peninsula Malaysia, 78 in Sabah and 22 in Sarawak), with the main channels flowing directly to the South China Sea and 85 of them are prone to become recurrent flooding. The estimated area vulnerable to flood disaster is approximately 29,800 km 2 or 9% of the total Malaysia area, and is affecting almost 4.82 million people which is around 22% of the total population of the country. This study is aimed at finding the causes, effects and mitigation of floods. A comparative study was carried out to determine the people perception on floods. It is clear that, most of the people believe that, improper drainage condition is the main cause of floods. About 33% of the population agrees that, water damage to building is the main effect of flooding and other part suggested that evacuating people from flood prone to safe zones is the best way of reducing flood victims. It is finally agrees that, government and local community should take necessary measures to ensure proper drainage is build and clear during rainfall season. It is suggested that people should avoid developing new buildings on a water ways to reduce frequent occurrence of flooding, or people and government most ensure that, flood prone areas are not occupy with buildings. Keywords: Malaysia, flood, disaster, vulnerable area, river basin, and rainfall season. I. INTRODUCTION A flood can be defined as any high water flow that dominates the natural or artificial banks in any part of the river system. Therefore, when a river bank is overtopped, the water extends over the flood plain and generally becomes hazard to the society (Ching et al., 2013). When floods occurred, it has terrible impacts on people as it disrupts their day to day activities and the impacts can last for a week in the coming years, climate change is likely to make the situation even more challenging (NFRA, 2011).Flooding is a natural event, and no matter how hard a government or society tried to minimize or to stop it completely (FRMP 2012). The most devastating natural disaster experienced in Malaysia is flood. Throughout Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak, there is total of 189 river basins with the main channels flowing directly to the south china sea and 85 of them are prone to recurrent flooding (89 of the river basins are in Peninsula Malaysia, 78 in Sabah and 22 in Sarawak). The estimated area vulnerable to flood disaster is approximately 29,800 km 2 or 9% of the total Malaysia area, and is affecting almost 4.82 million people which is around 22% of the total population of the country (DID, 2009). Floods in Malaysia have been classified in two categories by the Malaysian Drainage and Irrigation Department, i.e. flash flood and monsoon floods (DID, 2000a). Based on the hydrological perspectives, the clear difference between these two disasters is the period taken by the river flow to recede to the normal level. Flash floods take only some hours to return to the normal water level, while monsoon flood can last for a month (Noorazuan, 2006).