ALOR SETAR: The Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) has activated the Muda Area Flood Preparedness Plan to deal with the north-east monsoon that is expected to be exacerbated by the La Nina phenomenon at the end of this year.
Its chairman Ahmad Tarmizi Sulaiman said Mada would manage the excess water due to rainfall in accordance with the standard operating procedure set in the interest of the public and rice farming in the area.
“Forecasts show that from September 2022 to February 2023, Perlis will receive an average rainfall of between 200mm and 300mm and in Kedah, 290mm and 440mm.
“Based on this, the Muda area is likely to receive heavy rainfall in the dam catchment area, river catchment area and padi growing areas which will cause water levels and river flow to increase,” he said in a statement yesterday, Bernama reported.
He said Mada would ensure that irrigation and drainage infrastructure was functioning well and that assets such as boats, pumps and other equipment and machinery were in good condition.
Meanwhile, two temporary evacuation centres (PPS) were opened in Johor involving the Pontian and Kluang districts following two hours of heavy rain since 10am yesterday.
A district disaster management committee in a statement said that as at 4pm yesterday, 75 victims from 26 families were transferred to the PPS after their houses were flooded.
