The storm surge event of 1988 that affected the East Coast of Peninsular of Malaysia has produced significantly high water levels that caused severe flooding and destruction to coastal mitigation structures. A 28-year analysis of recorded water level data (1986 to 2013), from the southern coast of Thailand to the south-eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, show that the surge level was highest in the 80's, started to decline in late 90's, and slowly increased later in the twentieth century. Maximum surge was recorded in 1988 at Paknam Bangnara station in southern region of Thailand (max. storm surge, SSmax = 1.42 m) and Geting (SSmax = 0.93 m) in the north-eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia which resulted in a high erosion rate along these coasts. This paper explores the consequences of storm surge increment on the vulnerability of present coastal resources and shoreline protection structures along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The study reveals an increasing magnitude of storm surge and mean sea level increment in all the stations over the years which conform with the sea level rise assessment in IPCC AR5. Storm surge trends and the correlation between the stations are also investigated. Storm surge levels corresponding to various return periods are derived as a guideline for engineers and developers to determine the optimum level in their design. © 2018 7th IAHR International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures, ISHS. All rights reserved.