DAP’s Charles Santiago said the current floods in Johor and Pahang highlighted the need to provide relief to those affected, especially since the floods disproportionately affect the B40 and M40 groups, pushing them into poverty.

“Hence, Malaysia must implement a national flood insurance scheme that should be made available in all states with subsidised rates for B40 households,” he said in a statement.

The number of flood victims in Johor is more than 32,000 with all 10 districts in the state affected by the continuous heavy rain over the past few days.

Four fatalities have been recorded in Johor so far and one in Pahang.

Citing the United Kingdom’s Flood Re Scheme, Santiago said the joint initiative by the UK government and the insurance industry was designed to make flood coverage more available, affordable and accessible. It is also accountable to the Parliament.

“The United States and South Korea offer public insurance schemes, which our Asean neighbours like the Philippines and Thailand have adopted, where the premium is in proportion to the risk of flooding in a particular area,” he said, adding that schemes such as these increase affordability and accessibility to a much wider population.

Santiago stressed that the death and destruction brought on by these floods serve as a warning that more work must be done to lessen the effects of climate change.

“The government must also immediately put protective measures in place to shield vulnerable communities from its devastating effects,” he said.

The statistics department reported overall losses of RM6.1 billion due to the floods that affected several Malaysian states in late December 2021 and early January 2022.

Last year, the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) offered an extension for flood coverage under the comprehensive motor and fire policies with an additional premium and at the individual insurer’s underwriting discretion.