Community Empowerment through Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Social Sector of Kuala Krai, Kelantan, Malaysia

An enormous flood occurrences on the December 2014 has paralyzed almost the entire East-coast of Malaysia, in particular, the district of Kuala Krai, Kelantan. Among others, the utmost affected sector is social which relates to community-based (health; housing; education & cultural heritage) activities. This sector requires a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction for 'Build Back Better' Agenda. The objectives of this paper are: to investigate the damages and losses in social sector; to identify the critical needs of Kelantanese relating to damages and losses; and to establish a strategy of the community empowerment. A-five-month of data collection was conducted through literature search, interviews and workshop. Damage, Loss and Needs Assessment (DaLNA methodology) criteria were used to assess the damages and the losses. To underpin the findings, a semi-structured interview was carried out with seven (7) organisations that were involved in 2014 flooding: Kelantan State Government, Department of Social Welfare, National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) of Malaysia, Public Works Department, Health Department, Mercy Malaysia and the local communities. The qualitative data were analysed using Atlas.ti Version 8.0. Findings revealed that a total of RM63.6 million of damages and losses were deliberated in the social sector of Kuala Krai. As such, the critical needs of Kelantanese are identified as housing; health; education and cultural heritage. Apparently, for community empowerment, the development of Integrated Community Centre (ICC) has been recognised as a potential immediate solution. The ICC will be used as a multipurpose centre comprising: transit centre (housing); disaster mobile clinic (health); training & education (education) and religious centre (cultural heritage), in the event of flood. The research outcomes would provide a well-prepared and resilient community in combating disaster events in future. This is inspired by Sendai Framework: Priority 4 - Enhancing Disaster Preparedness for Effective Response and to “Build Back Better” in Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.