A REVIEW OF EVACUATION POLICIES FOR FLOOD DISASTER RESPONSE IN MALAYSIA

Flooding is a frequent natural disaster in Malaysia, significantly impacting communities and infrastructure. This study assesses the effectiveness of evacuation policies in managing operations during flood disasters, focusing on the 2014 Bah Kuning case in Kelantan. A quantitative approach was used, collecting data from 750 respondents comprising members of agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Malaysian Armed Forces. A questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale was employed to evaluate perceptions of policy and evacuation operation effectiveness. Findings from the analysis SmartPLS version 4.0 analysis revealed that evacuation policies had a significant influence on the effectiveness of evacuation operations (β = 0.560, p < 0.05). Descriptive analysis using SPSS version 29.0 indicated a high level of respondent satisfaction with evacuation policies, with over 90% rating moderate to high satisfaction (mean = 3.60, standard deviation = 0.647). This study highlights the need for clear policies, community involvement, and inter-agency coordination to enhance disaster response. The government is advised to review current evacuation policies and enhance regular training for officers involved in disaster management.