SYNOPSIS

In December 2014, Kelantan and Pahang experienced one of the worst floods in history. Unprecedented high flooding depth and flow velocity were observed in extensive areas during the prolonged flood event. Enormous damages in properties and significant live loss were sustained especially in the Sg Kelantan and Sg Pahang basins. The flood had triggered much discussions and controversy as to the causes of flooding and its severity in terms of return period of the event.

The talk will present the investigation results on the main causes of flooding for the main river basins in the East Coast. Natural factors such as rainfall, river and catchment characteristics as well as man-made factors such as logging and land development activities will be discussed.

The talk will cover the assessment of the severity of the flood event from perspective of rainfall, flood level, discharge and the controversial “Return Period”. The talk will also touch on the issue of optimum flood mitigation measures and attempt to answer: “Can the flood be mitigated and prevented?”


BIODATA OF SPEAKER

Ir. Chong Sun Fatt graduated from the University of Malaya with an honors degree in civil engineering in 1978. He has also obtained a Post-graduate Diploma in Hydrology from Delft Hydraulic Institute in 1983 and M. Sc in Irrigation Engineering from KU Leuven, Belgium in 1991.

Ir Chong served in the Department of Irrigation & Drainage (DID) from 1978 to 2004, holding various positions. He was involved in many projects on Hydrology, Water Resources, Irrigation, Drainage, Flood Mitigation, Dam Studies, Flood Forecasting and Warning services, Disaster Investigations and Management while in DID. Ir Chong was active in hydrological activities at the national, regional and international level.  

Ir. Chong is a founding partner and the Managing Director of G & P Water Sdn Bhd since June 2006 to July 2013. Since August 2013, he has assumed the role as the Principal Adviser to the company. The company has been involved in various projects for the Government and private companies pertaining to studies on hydrology and hydraulics, water resources assessment, flood investigation and mitigation, drainage planning and design, dam and reservoir analysis, water quality, river and coastal hydraulics, erosion and sediment control.