01/12/2025

MONDAY | DEC 1, 2025

11

Act now or face more disasters T HE streets of Hat Yai, the bustling commercial heart of southern Thailand, have been submerged under they unleash concentrated “rain bombs” that overwhelm drainage systems designed for a calmer past. The monsoons drenching

metres of muddy floodwater for the past 10 days as residents and stranded tourists wait on upper floors for dwindling supplies of food, drinking water and medicine. Schools, markets and workplaces have been shut indefinitely while small businesses that survived Covid-19 watched years of hard work swept away in a matter of hours. This is not a local misfortune; it is one more red flare in a global pattern of extreme rainfall that struck across continents in the same devastating week. While Hat Yai fought for survival, a synchronised crisis unfolded across Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, the state of Kelantan saw over 12,500 people evacuated as rivers burst their banks. The catastrophe extended further – Sri Lanka reported at least 56 deaths and 21 missing in devastating floods while Indonesia faced even greater tragedy, with at least 90 fatalities from floods and landslides across the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. These were not isolated incidents but connected manifestations of a planetary system in distress, with multiple nations across the region facing simultaneous deluges. The common thread is no longer debatable, climate change has loaded the atmosphere with extra moisture. Research shows that for every 1°C of warming, the air can hold about 7% more water vapour. When storms form, they do more than just rain – I AM writing in response to the insightful opinion piece by a community leader, published in the Letters section of theSun on Nov 26. I commend the writer for his call to action – learning to distinguish between what truly matters and what merely trends, especially regarding negativity bias in public discourse. I fully agree that issues like the temporary Budi95 technical glitches or localised debates over a broken lamp post can often become amplified noise. However, I must respectfully contend that the recurring failures of the KLIA Aerotrain are not merely a “trend” of negative complaints but a clear case of a substantive issue that matters. The Aerotrain is the essential, seamless connector between terminals at our national gateway. Its failure to consistently perform is not a trivial complaint; it is a serious matter of operational reliability impacting international passengers, our national image and airport logistics.

Southeast Asia were supercharged by the same warmer, wetter air that intensified rainfall from Thailand to Indonesia. Yet, a hotter atmosphere is only the trigger; human decisions turned it into a full-blown catastrophe. In Hat Yai and across lowland Thailand and Malaysia, wetlands that

once absorbed floodwaters have been replaced by housing estates and shopping malls. Hillsides stripped for palm oil and rubber send runoff racing into cities. Bangkok-style

mega-drainage projects were never replicated in secondary cities and existing canals are routinely clogged with uncollected rubbish and waste. Klang Valley’s booming townships expanded into former rice fields and floodplains with little regard for retention ponds or elevated roads. We have systematically dismantled the natural shock absorbers while paving the ground for faster and more violent flooding. The result is a brutal inequality of suffering. Industrialised nations emitted most of the greenhouse gases that destabilised the climate, yet the Global South pays the highest price. Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are not historically big emitters but their geography of low-lying coasts, steep deforested slopes and intense monsoons make them acutely vulnerable to the new extremes. The response must, therefore, run on two parallel tracks and neither is

We have systematically dismantled the natural shock absorbers while paving the ground for faster and more violent flooding. The result is a brutal inequality of suffering. – AFPPIC

reconstruction bills. Second, and more importantly, we must mitigate fast. Every new coal or extended coal plant in Asia, every unnecessary gas field, every cleared hectare of rainforest is a direct gamble against the survival of lowland Southeast Asia and millions of its inhabitants. The transition to renewables, electrified transport and reforestation must be treated as an urgent security issue; not a distant aspiration. The floods of recent weeks are not a new normal, they are the old normal on steroids. But how worse it gets depends on choices made in the next few years. The receding water from Hat Yai’s streets, from Kelantan’s villages and

from communities shattered by landslides, carries the same clear message that we broke the climate system together, and only together can we limit the damage. Empathy without action is sentimentality. Justice delayed is justice denied. These are not someone else’s disasters; they are humanity’s final exam. A passing grade is still possible but the bell is already ringing. Dr Bhavani Krishna Iyer holds a doctorate in English literature. Her professional background encompasses teaching, journalism and public relations. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree Indonesian

optional. First, we must adapt at speed to the reality we can no longer avoid. Cities like Hat Yai, Songkhla, Alor Setar and Klang urgently need redesigned and upsized drainage able to handle 50% to 100% more water. We must restore wetlands and urban green corridors while simultaneously enforcing strict no build zones on floodplains. Affordable early-warning systems linked to phones and sirens are essential. Elevated critical infrastructure like hospitals, power substations, emergency shelters must be considered non-negotiable in urban planning. These measures cost money but far less than repeated multibillion-dollar rescue and

in counselling. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Rediscovering your passion and purpose in your golden years

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

KLIA Aerotrain failures are not mere ‘noise’ but a serious issue

RETIREMENT is often seen as the final stage of one’s productive life after years of gainful employment. Reaching the milestone age of 60 – or even earlier – has left many retirees unsure of how to spend their golden years. Most retirees have depleted much of their savings after supporting their children through tertiary education. Life after retirement can feel disheartening, as some feel undervalued by society, no longer seen as useful. When physical or mental health begins to decline, low self-esteem can set in, eroding one’s sense of dignity and self worth. Many retirees struggle to regain their former confidence and resign themselves to a future filled with frustration, especially when meaningful opportunities to continue contributing elude them. For most, the issue is not about earning more money but about making their remaining years count – living gracefully and meaningfully. In such circumstances, retirees must take the initiative to explore new paths. These may include fulfilling long held dreams or volunteering for causes they never had time for previously. They can start a small venture, contribute to the community by sharing their knowledge or offer their expertise in areas that benefit the young and the old. Some may choose to tutor underprivileged students, helping them improve academically and opening doors to brighter futures. Through such communal

involvement, retirees can rediscover their zest for life and live with renewed purpose. It is about embracing the joy that comes from engaging in meaningful activities that uplift the community. Retirement is not solely about enjoying the fruits of past labour but also about giving back so that others with fewer means can benefit. Many retirees have successfully turned their skills, talents and experience into small businesses, becoming inspiring entrepreneurs only after retirement. Such engagement also enhances physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual well-being. Staying active through sports or regular exercise is equally important, as many retirees develop non communicable diseases due to lack of physical activity as they age. As Confucius said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Taking that first step may help retirees rediscover who they truly are and reaffirm their self-worth. Ageing can lead us to greater heights as long as we have passion, persistence and perseverance. So think big, dream boldly and step out of your comfort zone. Expand your horizons. My challenge to you is this: take the first step into the unknown – it may very well become your defining moment. Dr Tan Eng Bee Kajang

The writer’s emphasis on the reported 99.19% operational availability figure is highly inappropriate in this context. This figure is misleading when applied to mission-critical infrastructure as it translates directly to nearly three full days (two days, 23 hours and 11 seconds) of unscheduled, unpredictable downtime annually. This level of failure is profoundly unacceptable by global standards. Professionally and respectfully, no one would knowingly board a plane promoted as having only 99.19% reliability. For a critical transport system like this, the industry typically targets 99.8% availability, which permits a maximum of only 17 hours and 31 minutes of unscheduled downtime per year. The 99.19% figure is over three times the acceptable annual downtime for this type of system. Furthermore, the claim that critics “went silent” after the announcement is factually inaccurate, proving the issue was

taken seriously by those in power. 0 The 99.19% figure was officially quoted in Parliament by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah on Oct 13. 0 The debate did not cease. Subsequently, Transport Minister Anthony Loke publicly deemed the recurring breakdowns “unacceptable” and ordered an investigation into the airport operator. This decisive action by the Transport minister confirms the issue was viewed as a major operational failure – a clear indication that scrutiny was focused on what truly matters: safe, reliable transport; not just a passing trend. Holding authorities accountable for this critical infrastructure is necessary and distinct from succumbing to negativity bias. Our focus must remain on achieving the gold standard of reliability that truly matches our global aspirations. Chin Yew Sin Shah Alam