Kota Kinabalu: The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sabah Branch has pledged its full technical support to address the flash flood issues in the state, following severe flooding that hit several areas in Kota Kinabalu last Saturday.
The floods caused major disruptions in localities including Kolombong, Inanam and Manggatal, resulting in significant property damage and hardship for the affected communities.
As a professional body representing engineers across multiple disciplines, IEM Sabah Chairman Ir. Ts. Tan KJ, said the group recognises that flood events stem from complex, interrelated factors such as extreme weather conditions, limited drainage capacity, urban development patterns, tidal influences, and long-standing infrastructure constraints.
“IEM stands ready to provide comprehensive support to relevant authorities, agencies, and stakeholders – covering both immediate response measures and long-term flood mitigation strategies,” he said.
“Our members include experienced professionals in civil engineering, hydrology, drainage and flood control, geotechnical engineering, coastal engineering, urban infrastructure planning, and environmental engineering,” Tan added.
“Where requested, we can contribute through technical advice and professional opinions, independent engineering assessments, review of drainage and flood mitigation strategies, as well as sharing best practices and lessons learnt from other flood-prone regions,” he stressed
IEM Sabah emphasises that effective flood management requires a coordinated, data-driven, and technically robust approach underpinned by professional expertise and long-term planning.
Collaboration between government agencies, local authorities, technical professionals, and communities is vital to developing resilient and sustainable solutions for Kota Kinabalu and Sabah as a whole.
“We are committed to supporting efforts that improve infrastructure resilience, public safety, and environmental sustainability,” Tan said.
