Curbing Catastrophe

Siti Aina Zulkifle

“I am relieved that we are all safe, but I can’t think of what lies ahead. everything is lost,” said Mr Azwadi.​

16 Dec 2021, Flash floods that resulted from torrential rain in many states of Peninsular Malaysia exposed the reality of extreme weather caused by climate change. Taman Sri Muda, Selangor is one of the most affected areas that trapped thousands of people in their house without enough food, electricity and water supply for more than three days while waiting to be rescued. Affected families were severely lost as the floodwaters engulfed the first floor and almost reached the second floor of this flat. The public facilities, properties and vehicles are the major damage experienced by the flood victims.

The triptych link as past, current and future generations in managing the city's disaster planning. Old people's portrait emphasises his disappointment of the written history while the failure impact falls onto the current generation as public phones - the main executor and communicator to rectify past mistakes and improve future generation state of living. Meanwhile, children holding smart phones as a new hope of future generations with advancement in technology and knowledge.  

The arising issues on this traumatic event directed to the authorities failure in giving the emergency alert to the citizens in preparing the worst. Their ignorance and incompetency cause huge damage and killed people's life that could be less severe by having an efficient communication system. This failure in delivering the information represented by the old and outdated public phones drown in the flash flood waters.