The purpose of the training is to empower the targeted community on one-day training course for local communities at risk of flood hazards. Selected training modules were selected for implementation based on previous exercises in community training for flood response.
The main objective of the Programme is to enhance and develop a Malaysian facilitation and training module for community flood awareness and preparedness, incorporating experiential learning styles, to enhance climate change resilience. The target output of this programme is to build Awareness raising and facilitation for flood proofing and adaptation of a new flood-prone community using the prepared modules and demonstration activities for Community based Organisation (Residential Association, Rukun Tetangga, JKKK), Government agencies and local authorities.
The project activities focus not only on the awareness and knowledge, but also the skill to take action on the issues that matter the most. By ensuring that people have the awareness, knowledge and skill, only then can they take action to fix the problems at hand. The Civic Science Approach which applicable to this project; among others emphasize on developing the communication strategy, outreach and knowledge sharing with the local community.
A committee group was formed with DID (Department of Irrigation and Drainage) Kuantan as the joint-secretariat with GEC (Global Environment Center). The committees consist of officers from the river and flood focus agencies such as Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Kuantan; Malaysia Civil Defense Department Kuantan, Social Welfare Department Kuantan and Kuantan Municipal Council, National Disaster Management Agency (APBN) besides Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), MyWP and GEC.
Project Working Meeting:
In order for the training to be carried out, series of consultations and meetings held to identify potential stakeholder in Pahang. At the initial stage Pekan and Kuantan were identified as possible site for the training with local partnership with DID and local authority. First consultation was carries out with DID Pekan on 3 December 2015 followed with the discussion on 21st January 2016 with Majlis Perbandaran Kuantan (MPK). However both agency was not able to be the focal agencies in supporting the programme due to technical and logistical problems. Then with the support of MyWP & DID Malaysia, DID Pahang express their interest on the project. First official meeting for Kuantan project site was conducted on 2nd March 2016 in partnership with Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Pahang. The meeting which was chaired by Deputy Director of DID Pahang and was attended by 11 village heads, Malaysia Civil Defense Department, Social Welfare Department, Department of Information Kuantan and Kuantan Municipal Council. Finally all the key stakeholders agree and welcomed the workshop for selected Kuantan local communities.
Workshop:
Y. Bhg. Dato’ Ir. Hj. Shaharuddin Bin Ibrahim, DSAP, Director of Department of Irrigation and Drainage Pahang officiated the workshop which was conducted on the 14th March 2016. The one (1) day workshop was conducted at Dewan Seri Mentiga, Perkampungan Sungai Isap 2, Kuantan from 8.30 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. The training aims to equip the community with knowledge and skills on flood-proofing and climate resilience. The training also received good feedback and support from Kuantan District and Land Office. About 100 participants from 20 villages were involved in the training which has six (6) papers presented on flood scenario and how to address the issues during the flood and after the flood in community prospection. The training also focused on identification of safe escape routes, the type of hazards possibility within the proposed site, as well as to find possible solution to solve the problem. Demonstration on preparation of emergency bags also conducted for important documents and materials for flood, as well as on the use of water treatment apparatus for obtaining safe drinking water. Questionnaire surveys were also conducted by UPM before and after the training in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the course. The closing remark for the workshop was addressed by Tuan Zaliza bin Zulkipli, AAP, Kuantan District Officer.
The training was attended by the following villages:
- 1. Kampung Belukar
- 2. Kampung Tiram
- 3. Kampung setongkol
- 4. Kampung Seri Damai
- 5. Kampung Pahang
- 6. Kampung Sg Isap
- 7. Kampung Padang
- 8. Kampung Gudang Rasau
- 9. Kampung Ubai
10. Kampung Sg Rimau
11. Kampung Panchang
12. Kampung Jaya Gading
13. Kampung Semangat
14. Kampung. Hijrah
15. Kampung Pandan 2
16. Kampung Jeram Takar
17. Kampung Melayu, Sg Lembing
18. Kampunag Kuala KEnau
19. Kampung Cheroh Paloh
20. Kampung Tanah Putih
The presentation includes the civic science approach, facilitation and cooperative learning activities, as well as addressing the relevant components and messages in relation to community’s roles addressing flood issues.
Demonstration & Field Exercises:
The workshop focused on preparation of emergency bags; grab bags and 72H kits followed with water treatment apparatus.
Grab Bag is a vital bit of kit to have prepared and ready to take with you in the event of an emergency. 72 hour kit is a kit that you can carry it with you if you ever need to evacuate your home. It is also important to prepare one for each member of your family who is able to carry one.
Water Treatment Apparatus: boiling and chemical treatment are two common methods used to effectively to disinfect small quantities of filtered and settled water. However this can be tricky during flood. In current state, there are various tools and apparatus to treat the drinking water during the flood.
Community Flood Hazard Mapping
The participants were also exposed on how to develop their own community flood hazard map. Disclosure of secure methods of identification of safe routes traveled during disasters such as flooding and its consequences. Mapping based on the concepts of flood hazards ‘township’ safe passage using the sketch map as flood preparedness measures.
During the seminar, exhibition and information booths operated by the relevant agencies as:
a) RIVER Ranger Sungai Klang
b) Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Kuantan
The training was covered by the following medias; New Strait Times, Sinar Harian, Utusan Malaysia, Bernama, The Star, and Berita Harian, The annexes attached includes the media coverage in addition to the materials produced for the workshop.There was video filming been carried out which will be shared and upload.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v8/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=1225019
The training received good response from local community which express their willingness to be proactive on flood-proofing. DID Kuantan together with DO will explore the possibility to conduct annual workshop and follow-up of the workshop to address flood issues near in future.
In summary, local community has the major impact on floods and is willing to take bigger roles in order to address the pertaining issues. It was also concluded that the quest to enroll local community to address the flood issues ends here, as the government and relevant agencies are now aware and acknowledges programmes carried out to educate, share the skills and knowledge with the local communities to address the flood issues.