Malaysia - Bracing for floods

With the country expected to receive 20 to 40 per cent more rainfall this year compared with last year, the authorities have identified 5,156 evacuation centres that can accommodate 1.4 million flood victims nationwide.

Besides more rainfall, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said, the Meteorological Department had also forecast a hightide phenomenon on Dec 25.

The states expected to receive heavy rainfall are Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Kedah and Sabah.

"Those living in flood-prone areas, therefore, should be on the alert for warnings issued by the authorities," Muhyiddin, who is also National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said after chairing a special meeting on flood preparations here yesterday.

He also said 28,000 people were on standby to deal with the impending floods expected to hit the country between this month and March next year.

Last year, more than 20,000 people were involved in helping Malaysians during the floods.

Muhyiddin said the 28,000 were only from various agencies under the council such as Rela, the Civil Defence Department and the General Operations Force.

The number of policemen and soldiers that will be deployed to deal with floods was also expected to increase, he said.

"As floodwaters are expected to rise rapidly and currents are strong, please do not wait until the last minute to evacuate. We also want parents to be more responsible for their children's safety and stop them from playing in the floodwaters."

Also present was National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab.

Muhyiddin said the government would welcome contributions of volunteers and non-governmental organisations, pointing out that aid in the form of aid in the form of assets, logistics, communication, food, medical aid and manpower were needed.

"We also welcome donations to the disaster fund by the public and private sector which can be channelled to the council's Kumpulan Wang Amanah Bantuan Bencana Negara. The donations can be used to ease the financial burden of victims in repairing their houses."

Muhyiddin also launched the NSC Flood Portal which will provide constant updates such as weather forecasts and river levels.

Readers can log on to http://portalbanjir. mkn.gov.my or visit www.facebook.com/infor masibencana and www.twitter.com/@portalbanjir.

Earlier, Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, when visiting 164 Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Precinct 14(1) students sitting for the English 1 paper for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, said the ministry had made preparations for the possibility of certain schools hit by floods to ensure SPM students were not affected.

Schools in areas or states usually hit by floods had been identified for relocation of SPM students.

"We hope this (flooding at schools does not happen) but if it does like in previous years, we are prepared for it," he said adding that relocation of candidates would be determined by the school principals concerned.

Thajudeen said members from 26 NGOs had signed up as volunteers.

He said the council was also coordinating with the Health and Information, Communications and Culture ministries to warn and advise the public on hygienic measures in view of possible waterborne diseases.

In Kuantan, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said heavy rains were expected in coastal districts from next month and floods were expected to hit Rompin, Pekan and several other areas in Pahang.

Sean Augustin, Koi Kye Lee, M. Hamzah Jamaluddin and Atiqa Hazellah

New Straits Times

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