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ENVIRONMENTAL management can no longer be treated as a secondary concern in the age of climate change and must instead be approached through long-term, strategic solutions to safeguard public safety and national resilience, the His Majesty Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, has said.
Delivering his Royal Address at the opening of the fourth year of the Fifteenth Perak State Legislative Assembly in Ipoh today, Sultan Nazrin warned that Malaysia is increasingly confronting a phenomenon described as hydroclimatic whiplash, where prolonged dry periods are rapidly followed by extreme flooding within short intervals.
“This situation places immense strain on the resilience of existing infrastructure, which is increasingly unable to withstand the impact of unpredictable disasters. Therefore, proactive flood mitigation measures must be prioritised to ensure the safety and survival of the people,” he said.
The Sultan noted that ongoing flood mitigation initiatives and river maintenance works have already shown encouraging results, with the number of flood hotspots in Perak reduced from 332 locations in 2024 to 280 in 2025.
However, he stressed that physical infrastructure improvements alone are not sufficient, calling instead for a deeper transformation in attitudes towards the environment, moving away from exploitation towards stewardship and responsibility.
“A negligent attitude towards environmental management will lead to escalating disaster recovery costs, ultimately placing heavier financial burdens on both the state and the nation,” he warned.
Sultan Nazrin also highlighted the importance of cultivating environmental awareness among younger generations, commending initiatives such as Perak’s Green Shoots School Programme, which encourages sustainable practices in schools.
Under the programme’s first phase, 125 schools collectively reduced 185.61 tonnes of plastic waste, equivalent to more than 629,973 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide emissions.
“Children must be educated to understand the importance of recycling, the role of forests as water catchment areas, and the protective function of mangrove ecosystems against erosion and storms,” His Majesty said.
He emphasised that a holistic approach combining policy, education and community engagement is essential to achieving long-term environmental sustainability amid increasingly volatile climate conditions. - April 14, 2026
