The Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer) is not amused by some irresponsible, illogical, idiotic and lunatic attempts to point the recent flood as a "punishment from God", and neither do we take the current flooding as a rare occurrence.

In fact, if the destruction of our forests were to continue, imagine what will be the flood situation when only half of our current virgin forests are left? In the 10th Malaysia Plan, it was published that RM5 billion will be allocated for flood mitigation programmes (page 282).

Based on the latest Budget 2015 breakdown, the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) is supposed to carry out projects worth RM4.638 billion for flood mitigation from 2011 to 2015, but only RM2.459 billion has been allocated so far. The federal government has also allocated RM1.788 billion and RM3.998 billion for flood mitigation programmes under the 8th and 9th Malaysia Plan respectively.

What is the current status of these projects? What were the expected results of projects that have already been completed until December 2014?

Based on estimated values, the losses incurred due to flooding is around RM1 billion a year. This was a figure back in 2002 published by DID. This means we had a total estimated RM12 billion or more worth of losses due to floods until 2013. This year's floods will cost us a lot more. However, the losses do not include flood mitigation, infrastructure reconstruction and compensation allocations.

What will be the price that we will be paying in near future if forests are continued to be destroyed? The flood situation has been worsening over the years and it is time to audit these flood mitigation projects.

Awer urges the auditor-general to conduct in-depth auditing of flood mitigation and drainage related projects that were planned and executed under the 8th, 9th and 10th Malaysia Plans. The audit scope should also evaluate the success rate of each project. The auditor-general must also compile annual losses for those flood-prone states.

Flooding is part of the water cycle

Basic science clearly places flooding as part of the water cycle. Being part of the equatorial climate, "rain" is the keyword. As we have explained before, when rain falls some portion of it is absorbed by the forest and soil. The balance of the rainfall will flow on the surface as surface runoff. As we reduce the amount of absorption capacity, naturally we will increase the amount of surface runoff.

How has the absorption capacity been reduced? It reduces due to deforestation, change of land use, an increase in impermeable (surface that does not absorb water) surfaces and basically, developments to cater to our increasing population.

Land matters are under the purview of the respective state governments. This includes the protection of virgin forests as well as the gazetting of land use under each local government. Clearing virgin forests and replanting the area with crops, does not make an area "green" and "natural".

The destruction of forests destroys nature's ability to ‘delay’ the flow of surface water. Therefore, green coloured crops will not guarantee natural flood mitigation. Once a forest is destroyed, it's one way ticket for all of us!

Awer urges the government to obey nature's law. Every solution that is planned for flood mitigation must ‘mimic’ nature’s method. Water flows from higher to lower elevation via logical passage (due to gravity). It forms fresh water swamps and lakes in its journey. The movements of a large volume of water will not follow our man-made passages.

The water moves based on its own momentum and washes everything in its passage that it can overcome. This was the incident we all witnessed in Bertam Valley, Cameron Highlands. Mimicking nature and using its delay method is the only way to reduce or prevent such devastating incidents.

Construction of flood mitigation infrastructures is vital. It is also equally important to maintain the flood mitigation infrastructures. However, if the forest covers continue to be cleared, no matter how much we spend, Malaysia will not be able to minimise or solve its flood problem. This is mainly because large amounts of water will be able to overcome the infrastructures we construct to ‘try’ to contain flood waters.

Remember, we live in equilibrium with nature. Any attempt to destroy it, and we are charting our own destruction!

PIARAPAKARAN S is president of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia (Awer).