Recent rainfall has led to heavy flooding in Sabah, including in the state capital, Kota Kinabalu. Subsequent landslides have caused fatalities and widespread evacuations. Image Source: Instagram; @hajiji_haji_noor

Authorities have reported a decline in water levels across most affected areas, allowing many evacuees to return home after weeks of displacement caused by severe weather.

In recent weeks, torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across multiple parts of the Malaysian state in northern Borneo. Low-lying districts such as Beaufort, Kota Marudu, Telupid, and Kota Belud were among those inundated, while continuous downpours swelled rivers and overwhelmed drainage systems.

Relief efforts were mobilized quickly, with dozens of temporary shelters opened at the peak of the crisis. Thousands of residents were forced from their homes, though many have now been able to return.

The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) confirmed that 13 people have died due to landslides across Sabah, while one fatality has been attributed to the floods. The worst incidents occurred in the districts of Inanam and Papar, where multiple homes were destroyed. In Kampung Cenderakasih, Inanam, a landslide buried several houses and killing seven people, including four children aged between two and nine. Emergency services have since conducted search and recovery operations in the affected areas, with rescue personnel contending with unstable terrain and blocked access routes.

The State Disaster Management Committee confirmed that 13 people have died due to landslides across Sabah, while one fatality has been attributed to the floods.

While natural disasters are not new to the region, the scale and frequency of such incidents have underscored longstanding concerns about Sabah’s infrastructure vulnerabilities. Historically, the state has struggled with inconsistent investment in drainage and flood mitigation systems, a challenge rooted in both geographic and political complexity. Many rural communities remain difficult to reach during emergencies due to limited road access, and urban expansion in Kota Kinabalu has outpaced drainage capacity.

Urban expansion in Kota Kinabalu has outpaced drainage capacity.

The recent disaster has reignited calls for more comprehensive infrastructure planning. Civil engineers and urban planners have proposed the development of large-scale water reservoirs to help control future flooding.

Beyond flood prevention, advocates say such a project could also address Sabah’s chronic water supply issues. Earlier this year, the Universiti Malaysia Sabah made headlines when it experienced a water outage severe enough to disrupt classes and operations. The incident brought renewed public pressure on the state government to find long-term solutions to water security—an issue that even drew the direct attention of the Malaysian Prime Minister.

The Milau Dam, Kudat Water Supply Project, is part of the effort to address persistent water shortage issues in Sabah. Such projects may also play a greater role in mitigating flood waters in the future. Image Source: HSSGroup

Calls for accountability and transparency are growing louder, echoing regional frustrations beyond Sabah.

In the neighboring Philippines, similar flood-related crises have sparked widespread protests over corruption and mismanagement within national disaster prevention programs. Civil society groups have drawn attention to incomplete drainage projects and the diversion of funds meant for flood protection.

These protests reflect broader concerns about governance and resource allocation in Southeast Asia’s climate-vulnerable zones. In Sabah, where environmental risks are compounded by topographical challenges and development pressures, the urgency of addressing frequent flooding is hard to ignore.

REFERENCES

Chan, J. (2025, September 15). Sabah reels from deadly landslides and floods: 11 dead, hundreds evacuated. Malay Mail. https://www.malaymail.com/

Vanar, M. (2025, September 22). Water engineers suggest coastal reservoirs to mitigate Penampang’s flood woes. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/