The floods and landslides that tore through Sabah recently have left behind devastation and grief, a tragedy that many say was as predictable as it was preventable.

With 14 lives lost and hundreds of families displaced, the state is once again confronted with the grim reminder that it lacks a permanent system to deal with recurring disasters, exposing years of neglect.

Floods, landslides, and storms have become an annual ordeal, especially along Sabah’s west coast and interior districts. For many, the fear is no longer just of the rain itself, but...