Regional coastal vulnerability assessment, Klang and Kuala Langat coastal zone, Malaysia (NAHRIM, n.d.; NAHRIM, 2019)

The Klang-Kuala Langat coastal zone in Selangor, Malaysia, illustrates how a regional vulnerability assessment can inform port and coastal planning. As one of Malaysia’s most economically important coastal regions, hosting Port Klang, major industrial areas, and dense settlements, the area faces increasing risks from sea level rise (SLR) and associated coastal hazards. The NAHRIM study links sea level rise projections with land use in the coastal study area.

Projected SLR for Peninsular Malaysia is estimated at 0.25 m to 0.52 m by 2100, with observed rates already ranging between 0.2 mm and 4.4 mm per year. While these increases may appear moderate, their interaction with tides, storm surges, and riverine flooding significantly amplifies extreme water levels, particularly in low-lying estuarine environments such as Port Klang. As a result, even incremental SLR leads to disproportionate increases in flood frequency, depth, and spatial extent.

The study assesses coastal vulnerability through the interaction of hazard, exposure and the sensitivity of land uses, including port, industrial, agricultural and settlement areas.

The study considers potential impacts on port and industrial land, agricultural areas such as Pulau Carey, and coastal settlements such as Telok Gong and Pulau Ketam. 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 not a measured port loss.

NAHRIM’s land-use summary lists about 10,022 hectares affected by coastal flooding due to sea level rise in the study area, including about 857 hectares of industrial land (NAHRIM, 2019). These are different categories within one total, not conflicting figures.

To support adaptation, the study recommends measures including restricting development in high-risk zones, incorporating coastal setback and retreat strategies, elevating infrastructure platforms, and preserving natural buffers such as mangroves. Importantly, the framework emphasizes forward-looking planning, ensuring that future development aligns with projected risk pathways rather than historical conditions.

Overall, the Klang case shows how a regional assessment that links sea level rise to land use can inform port and coastal planning, provided its historical projections are updated before use.