Floods in Malaysia

Floods in Malaysia are one of the most regular natural disasters affecting the country, which occurs nearly every year especially during the monsoon season. The coasts of peninsular Malaysia are the most prone to flooding especially during the northeast monsoon season from October to March.

Notable floods

10 December 1969 – Kluang flood.
January 1971 – Kuala Lumpur hit by flash floods.
2 March 2006 – Shah Alam hit by flash floods.
19 December 2006 – Several parts of Johor state including Muar, Johor Bahru, Skudai and Segamat were hit by flash floods.
10 January 2007 – Several parts of Johor were hit by flash floods again.
10 June 2007 – Kuala Lumpur was hit by flash floods, worst since 10 June 2003.
December 2007 – Several parts of the East Coast of the Peninsula including Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor were hit by flash floods.
November 2010 – Kedah and Perlis flooded due to heavy rainfall after a tropical depression.
December 2014 – Northern and East Coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Perlis in Peninsular Malaysia were hit by flash floods as well as some areas in Sabah.
14 September 2017 – Penang recorded a rainfall of 270mm and was affected by flash floods. The flooding was considered the worst in the state since 2007.
2017 Malaysian floods – The Northern states of Peninsular Malaysia were hit by flash floods caused by unusually heavy rains in Tropical Depression 29W, Typhoon Damrey. Flood waters in parts of Penang reached 3.7 m, submerging entire homes.
2020–2021 Malaysian floods – In late 2020 and early 2021, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor were more particularly affected by flash floods.
2021–2022 Malaysian floods – In late 2021 and early 2022, Klang Valley was hit by the worst flash floods ever seen in 50 years due to Tropical Depression 29W. Other reports include Lubok Cina, Kuantan, Bentong, Gua Musang, Kuala Linggi, Seremban and Teluk Intan experienced the flash flood as well.
2025 East Malaysia floods – A severe flood and landslide hits Sabah on September 12, 2025. This incident caused over 400 people were displaced, with more than 22 villages affected, mostly in Penampang and Beaufort. The flood resulted from heavy rainfall that affecting seven districts in Sabah. Meanwhile in Sarawak, Long Lama town has been inundated by floods following continuous downpours in Ulu Baram and its surrounding areas, leaving most parts of the town underwater.

Causes

Given Malaysia's geographical location, most floods that occur are a natural result of cyclical monsoons during the local tropical wet season that are characterised by heavy and regular rainfall from roughly October to March.
Inadequate drainage in many urban areas also enhance the effects of heavy rain, though efforts are underway to resolve this.
Climate change in Malaysia is expected to impact flooding in the country, with the frequency of extreme weather increasing.

List of hotspot flash flood areas in Malaysia

Klang Valley and Selangor

Along Klang River in Klang Valley
* Kuala Lumpur city centre near Masjid Jamek
* Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur
Along Gombak River in Klang Valley
Along Kerayong River in Kuala Lumpur
* Sungai Besi near Razak Mansion
Along Damansara River in Shah Alam
* From Taman TTDI Jaya, Giant Hypermarket, Shah Alam Stadium until Batu Tiga.

Perak

Along Kuala Kangsar highway

Penang

Seberang Jaya Interchange underpass on Butterworth-Kulim Expressway near Aeon Big Seberang Jaya

Kedah

Along Muda River
Kepala Batas near Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, Alor Star

Kelantan

Along Kelantan River in Kelantan
* Tambatan Diraja, Kuala Krai
* Tangga Krai, Kuala Krai
Golok River, Tumpat

Terengganu

Dungun River
Terengganu River near Kuala Berang
Besut River

Pahang

Pahang River from Temerloh to Pekan town
Kuantan River in Kuantan

Negeri Sembilan

Gemas

Malacca

Kesang River

Johor

Along Sungai Air Molek in Johor Bahru
* From Johor Bahru Prison, Federal Building, Tabung Haji Building, JOTIC, Dewan Jubli Intan, until Court Building near Istana Besar.
Skudai River in Johor Bahru
Along Tebrau River in Johor Bahru
* Kampung Kangkar Tebrau
Johor River near Kota Tinggi
Along Sungai Benut from Simpang Renggam to Benut
Sungai Simpang Kiri and Sungai Simpang Kanan in Batu Pahat
Along Semberong River in Batu Pahat
Segamat River near Segamat
Along Muar River from Segamat to Muar district

Sabah

Along the Penampang Road
Padas River
Sandakan areas of Sim-Sim Road, BDC Road at Mile 1, Sepilok Road at Mile 14 and Gum-Gum Road at Mile 16
Tawau areas of Sin On Road, Chong Thien Vun Road, Pasadena Park, Aman Ria 5, LCN Park, Villa Park, Green Park, Eastern Plaza, Takada Commercial Square, Apas Batu Road 1 ½, Kampung Saadani Apas Batu Road 2, Kampung Pasir Puteh, Kampung Tanjung Batu, Leeka Park, Kampung Batu Dua, Pasadena Park and Setia Park

Sarawak

Kuching areas