SUNGAI PETANI, Oct 13 – The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), in collaboration with Yachiyo Engineering Co., Ltd. (YEC), Japan, organised the 2026 Advanced Sabo Course from 13 to 15 October at Park Avenue Hotel, Kedah.
The course was officiated by the Consul General of Japan in Penang, Machida Shinya. Also present were the Director of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) Sabah, Ir. Hj. Siraja Bashora; Deputy Dean (Research, Innovation and Development), MJIIT, Assoc. Prof. Ir. Dr. Zool Hilmi Ismail; Director of DPPC, Sr. Dr. Shuib Rambat; Adjunct Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shohei Matsuura; and Deputy Director General, International Division, YEC, Masaharu Mizoguchi.
In his opening remarks, Adjunct Assoc. Prof. Dr. Shohei Matsuura traced the collaboration between YEC and MJIIT, which began in 2023 through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) office, from the first Sabo Course in 2024 to this year’s course. “Partnerships like this, linking universities, industry and government agencies, are how technology is not only transferred but adapted to local conditions,” Machida Shinya said.
In his officiating address, Machida Shinya highlighted the friendship between Japan and Malaysia since diplomatic relations were established in 1957, noting that the countries will mark 70 years of relations next year. He said MJIIT carries forward the Look East Policy through Japanese engineering education.
Referring to the debris flow at Gunung Jerai in August 2021, he said it “showed how quickly such an event can affect a community” and described the field visits to the Tupah and Titi Hayun Sabo dams as valuable. He linked the course to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. “Technology alone does not protect lives. People do,” he said, encouraging participants to share experiences and build a network of Sabo practitioners in Malaysia before declaring the course open.
The course attracted 45 participants, 50 per cent above the target of 30. They represented the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), consulting firms HSS Engineering, Khalifa Consult and BW Perunding, and postgraduate students. Sessions were delivered by YEC experts Masaharu Mizoguchi, Naoki Yoshinaga and Dr. Hefryan Sukma Kharismalatri.
On the first day, participants studied Japan’s Sabo Act and legal framework, facility planning principles and layout plans. On the second day, they visited the Sabo dams at Tupah and Titi Hayun, Gunung Jerai, to study how catchment characteristics, debris flow behaviour and site conditions influence design and collected data.
On the final day, they prepared layout plans using the data, followed by a facility design review and sessions on Japan’s experience in operation, maintenance and debris flow early warning.
The course ended on 15 October, with participants receiving certificates and Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours. The programme followed UTM and YEC’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange on 9 October 2026 and supports the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Prepared by: Ir. Ts. Dr. Faizah Che Ros, Deputy Director, Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre (DPPC), MJIIT, UTM
