Authorities on standby nationwide for possible floods, says Zahid

PUTRAJAYA: Preparations are already underway to face possible floods that have been forecasted to start on Dec 17, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Deputy Prime Minister said although the flood warning was just a forecast, agencies had been directed to be on alert and to be on standby.

"This may be what has been forecasted and whether it will happen or not remains to be seen.

"But as a responsible government, we must be ready to help those affected should water rises," he said after chairing the national disaster management committee meeting on Tuesday (Dec 13).

A weather expert has forecast that the nation would experience significant flooding within the next three days due to heavy monsoon rain triggered by the active La Nina and negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) phenomena.

National Antarctica Research Centre meteorological expert Professor Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah was quoted as saying that the monsoon rain had not only created strong winds over the South China Sea but also the La Nina and IOD phenomena, which had caused an increase of rain resulting in flooding in the east coast of the peninsula.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that according to MetMalaysia, three areas that might be affected were east coast states of the peninsula namely Kelantan and Terengganu.

Other areas to be on standby for floods were the east coast of Sabah and the west coast of Sarawak.

Ahmad Zahid said that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) remained the coordinating agency for disasters, including floods.

To a question, he dismissed talk that Nadma would be dissolved and that the National Security Council would take over the role.

"I created Nadma, I shouldn't close it down," he said.

Nadma is an agency under the Prime Minister's Department.