The government should carry out a thorough study of the country’s ecological system instead of relying on “outdated” data to gauge the safety of a place.

Environmental group Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) president Damien Thanam said although old data have shown that the country’s forests are capable of preventing risks of floods and other disasters, such findings may no longer apply as the country experiences extreme weather changes due to climate change.

“We are still using the same...