KUCHING (July 9): Sarawak must adopt smarter, more resilient flood control systems to cope with the dual pressures of rapid urbanisation and climate change, said Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Desmond Douglas Jerukan.

He said the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, particularly floods, have made it clear that urgent and coordinated action is needed.

“Sarawak, like many rapidly urbanising regions around the world, is facing a growing set of challenges tied to climate change and urban development.

“The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather, especially floods, has made it clear that we must act decisively and collaboratively.

“Our cities, infrastructure and communities require flood management systems that are not only robust, but also intelligent and adaptable,” he said when officiating at the Seminar on Improving Flood Control in Stormwater Systems for Sarawak: Current Status, Challenges and Capabilities 2025 here yesterday.

Desmond described the seminar as a timely platform that aligns with the state’s broader development goals.

“It offers a much-needed space for technical exchange, strategic dialogue and innovation sharing.

“More importantly, it supports the aspirations outlined in Sarawak’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

“Under this strategy, our state is committed to achieving high-income status, environmental sustainability and social inclusivity through innovation and digital transformation,” he said.

He stressed that flood resilience, stormwater management, and digital infrastructure must not be seen solely not just as engineering challenges, but as key enablers of economic growth, public safety and environmental protection.

Desmond said the integrated approach discussed at the seminar reflects  the importance of combining policy, technology and practical solutions to address issues such as outdated drainage in fast-developing areas, fragmented hydrological data, and a lack of coordinated planning across agencies.

He noted that persistent challenges include ageing infrastructure, inconsistent data collection, and the complex nature of inter-agency coordination.

The seminar offered a strategic overview of the state’s current stormwater infrastructure and ongoing flood mitigation efforts, while highlighting relevant policy frameworks and digital innovations now reshaping how water systems are designed and managed.

Topics covered included real-time data monitoring, predictive modelling and the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in infrastructure development.

The event also underscored the importance of inter-agency coordination, data-sharing and capacity-building for long-term success.

It also addressed key technical and operational challenges, including limited modelling accuracy and the need for stronger cross-jurisdictional collaboration.

Also present as one of the keynote speakers was Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak director Dr Cassidy Morris.