Port Klang, Impact of Sea Level Rise Due to Climate Change (NAHRIM, n.d.; NAHRIM, 2019)

Port Klang, Malaysia’s largest port and a critical national economic gateway, is located within a low-lying and highly urbanized coastal zone that is already experiencing the effects of climate variability and sea level rise. Baseline conditions indicate that large areas of Port Klang and its surrounding districts, particularly Port Klang township, Pulau Indah, and adjacent industrial and port lands, are situated at elevations vulnerable to tidal flooding, storm surge, and river-coastal interactions. The National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM) study summary states that sea levels along Malaysia’s coastline have risen at rates of 0.2 mm to 4.4 mm per year since 2010 (NAHRIM, n.d.); this is a source statement, not a trend verified for this toolkit.

Looking ahead, projected changes in climate-related parameters are expected to significantly intensify these risks at Port Klang. NAHRIM’s 2010 sea level rise projections, presented in 2019, indicate an increase of 0.25 to 0.52 meters by 2100 for Peninsular Malaysia (NAHRIM, 2019), with the west coast, where Port Klang is located, identified as one of the most affected regions. NAHRIM’s land-use summary for the Port Klang coastal study area lists about 857 hectares of industrial land and approximately 374 hectares of special-use land in the coastal study area among about 10,022 hectares affected by coastal flooding due to sea level rise (NAHRIM, 2019). The table does not identify a port subset or state the scenario year. Housing areas, institutional land, and transport-related infrastructure are also increasingly exposed as sea levels rise and flood extents expand inland.

Future climate scenarios suggest that sea level rise will interact with more intense rainfall events and storm surges, compounding flood depths and durations. By mid- to late-century, these combined hazards are expected to increase the frequency of disruptive flood events, degrade access to port terminals, and heighten risks to critical logistics, warehousing, and industrial facilities at Port Klang. The study summary gives a historical model projection of losses of at least RM1.41 billion for a major flood event in 2020 across the coastal study area (NAHRIM, n.d.); this is projected exposure, not a measured port loss.

Integrating sea level rise projections into local planning instruments, port development strategies, and platform elevation standards is therefore essential. Adaptation responses, including higher development platforms, improved drainage capacity, strategic retreat from high-risk zones, and climate-informed zoning, are recommended to maintain Port Klang’s operational viability and safeguarding surrounding communities under a changing climate.