Can Malaysia turn monsoon floods into drought-proof water reserves instead?

The overflow of rainwater, which poses a risk of causing flood disasters during the monsoon season, can actually become a lifesaver in facing the threat of the dry season. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

First Published: Tuesday, 10 Nov 2026 7:00 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 — The overflow of rainwater, which poses a risk of causing flood disasters during the monsoon season, can actually become a lifesaver in facing the threat of the dry season, thereby ensuring the continuity of domestic supply and national food security.

Therefore, the main challenge now is to what extent some of the water overflow during the North-east Monsoon (MTL) can be harvested, stored, and reused optimally during hot weather to reduce pressure on the water supply system and the agricultural sector.

On November 1, Bernama reported that Malaysia could face two opposing weather challenges in the coming months, starting with the threat of floods due to the MTL before possibly being hit by drought following the Super El Nino phenomenon in 2027, which could affect water supply and the agri-food sector.

Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) water resource expert Associate Professor Dr Zulkarnain Hassan said Malaysia needs to emphasise efforts to maximise rainwater harvesting, especially in areas receiving heavy rainfall such as the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

He explained that although dams and reservoirs usually reach maximum capacity during the monsoon, the potential to store excess water needs to be translated into more concrete actions before the country enters the drought phase.

Zulkarnain, who is also a hydrology expert, said that among the approaches that can be expanded is the utilisation of ponds, lakes, and former mining areas as alternative catchment areas through the Riverbank Water Storage (TAPS) method, similar to the implementation of the Raw Water Guarantee Scheme (SJAM) in Selangor.

He said the initiative is capable of providing a backup water reserve for two to three months during droughts or when water treatment plants halt operations due to pollution, and it should be explored in other states according to local geographical suitability.

Touching on dam management, Zulkarnain said the main challenge is optimising the operation of multi-purpose dams, particularly in balancing the need to release water to reduce flood risk without compromising the dry season storage reserves.

For example, he said the Bukit Merah Dam in Perak not only serves to supply water for irrigation and domestic use but also functions as flood control infrastructure and a recreational zone.

“This challenge is more pronounced when the operation of dam water release in Malaysia is still largely managed manually and relies on the operator’s experience. This situation risks causing excessive water release solely due to safety and flood control factors,” he told Bernama.

In this regard, he proposed the expansion of the Decision Support System (DSS) using smart weather forecasting technology to help operators determine the precise quantity of water release based on reservoir levels and current needs.

In addition, Zulkarnain said emphasised the need to reduce the Non-Revenue Water (NRW) rate through the replacement of old pipes, rapid leak detection, and more efficient distribution pressure management.

He also suggested that the community cultivate the practice of collecting rainwater for non-drinking purposes such as watering plants and washing vehicles, in addition to recommending the “Sponge City” concept in urban planning to absorb excess rainwater to reduce flash floods and increase groundwater reserves.

Meanwhile, agricultural technology expert from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Dr Wan Fazilah Fazlil Ilahi believes that the overflow of MTL water should be seen as a valuable asset to ensure that agricultural activities can continue sustainably during the dry season.

She said that the approach to farm water management needs to shift from merely draining water away during heavy rain to efforts to collect, store, and recycle the resource for irrigation.

She said that runoff water from farmland areas, agricultural structure roofs, and drainage systems can be channelled directly into farm retention ponds or rainwater harvesting tanks, especially in rural agricultural areas lacking large-scale irrigation systems.

“Vegetable farms can combine rainwater harvesting tanks with drip irrigation systems, while fruit farms can use retention ponds as a water source during the dry season,” she said.

She said the measure is important considering that crops such as chilies, tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy vegetables are at risk of root damage and diseases when water stagnates for too long, while rice, corn, fruits, and certain commodity crops can be affected by prolonged water shortages.

That situation, she said, could affect crop yields and quality, increase production costs, and put pressure on farmers’ incomes, especially smallholders with limited financial capacity.

Wan Fazilah said that the use of drip irrigation systems can save water between 20 and 40 per cent, while the Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method for padi cultivation can save around 15 to 30 per cent of water usage.

According to her, the technology does not require high costs because small farmers can implement it modularly through basic tanks and pipes, in addition to recommending irrigation practices.

“We should not wait until a drought hits before we want to take action. The MTL period is the best opportunity to strengthen infrastructure and water storage systems in preparation for the possibility of water shortages in the future,” she added. — Bernama