A total of 704 coastal erosion locations have been identified nationwide through the Integrated Shoreline Management Plan (ISMP), with 46 areas classified as critical, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) said.
In a written reply uploaded on the Parliament website, PETRA said the identified locations involved 10 states, with 183 areas categorised under Category 2 (Significant), while another 475 locations were placed under Category 3 (Not Serious).
The ministry said coastal erosion monitoring and management are carried out through a coordinated effort involving several government agencies, including the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM), Marine Department Malaysia, Department of Environment (DOE), PLANMalaysia, state governments and relevant local authorities.
“Coastal erosion monitoring and management in the country are carried out in an integrated manner involving various government agencies according to their respective jurisdictions and functions,” the ministry said.
The ministry was responding to a question from Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas) on the agencies involved in monitoring coastal erosion nationwide and the total number of recorded erosion sites.
PETRA said JPS serves as the technical agency responsible for conducting studies, planning and recommending mitigation measures under ISMP, while the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) carries out research and development (R&D) on coastal erosion processes.
The ISMP serves as a long-term framework for managing coastal areas more comprehensively and sustainably, focusing on erosion control, protection of coastal assets and sensitive areas, flood risk management and coordinated coastal development.
For critical Category 1 areas, PETRA said structural mitigation measures such as rock revetment construction are implemented to control erosion.
For Category 2 and Category 3 coastal areas, the ministry said non-structural measures are applied through continuous monitoring and development management approaches, including controlled development setbacks.
