EVALUATION OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT POLICIES FOR COMMUNITY FLOOD RESILIENCE IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

The risk of floods is expected to increase as the frequency of extreme weather events driven by climate change increases. Strengthening community flood resilience requires an effective governance framework. This study uses a qualitative approach to examine the extent to which existing disaster management and other relevant policies in Malaysia support community resilience to floods amid climate change. National policy documents related to disasters, floods, and climate change were analysed using the multidimensional Flood Resilience Measurement for Communities framework, complemented by semi-structured interviews with key informants from government agencies. The study found that Malaysia's existing policy framework provides a foundation for community flood resilience, although important gaps remain across financial, human, social, physical, and natural capitals. Financial capital remains largely reactive, while physical capital focuses on large-scale infrastructure. Human capital development is uneven, social capital remains constrained by limited community participation, and natural capital is weakly integrated at the community level. Addressing these gaps is essential to enhance community-level preparedness, adaptive capacity, and long-term flood resilience in Malaysia.