B40 communities at risk without climate action

New Straits Times

2 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Climate change is hitting Malaysia's rural and coastal communities hard, especially among the bottom 40 per cent (B40) income group, experts said.
Erratic rainfall and frequent flooding are disrupting agriculture and fisheries, which are key income sources for households earning below RM5,249 a month.
They warned that without a long-term adaptation plan, climate shocks could worsen existing vulnerabilities and deepen inequality in already underserved areas.
"Kelantan, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak are among the most affected states," said Universiti Malaya's Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies director Datin Seri Prof Dr Suhaiza Hanim Mohamad Zailani.
She said these regions are particularly exposed to unpredictable monsoon patterns that compromise food security, fish catches and rice yields.
"This starts a vicious cycle in which environmental instability feeds economic suffering," she said in a statement.
Suhaiza cited Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Dr Nur Adilah, who noted that families often migrate to overcrowded cities lacking proper infrastructure.
To counter this, Suhaiza said Malaysia could learn from Bangladesh and the Netherlands, which prioritise sustainable infrastructure and community involvement.
She also cited Dr Shahrul Hisham, who said Malaysia has relied too much on short-term relief rather than long-term, community-based approaches.
Suhaiza called for investment in flood control, renewable energy and decentralised systems such as solar or mini-hydro to support rural livelihoods.
"Solar power or mini-hydro solutions help with water pumping, storage and other crucial agricultural equipment," she said.
She added that diversifying into ecotourism or aquaculture could reduce dependence on fishing and farming.
Financial protection is also essential, including emergency aid, crop insurance and targeted support for flood-prone communities.
Suhaiza proposed a Climate Adaptation Fund and improved data systems to guide resources to where they're needed most.
"Bridging the gap between policy and practice is crucial, and actively involving communities in resilience-building can have a noticeable impact," she added.