KUALA LUMPUR: The heavy rain wreaking havoc in Kelantan and Terengganu is forecast to head towards Pahang, Johor and the western region of Sarawak, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions).
Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said latest data from the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) indicated that the second wave of the northeast monsoon, which was previously predicted to last from Dec 17 to 21, would now extend until Dec 25.
“The government has requested that the disaster management committees at the state and district levels, especially in the hotspot areas of these three states, to increase their level of preparedness,” he said after receiving the Felda Global Ventures (FGV) disaster aid donation in Parliament yesterday, Bernama reported.
FGV chairman Datuk Zulkifli Wahab presented Armizan with a mock cheque of RM5mil to be channelled to the National Disaster Assistance Fund.
Armizan also urged the disaster management committees to be vigilant for post-rain effects, such as soil movement that could bring the risk of landslides, especially in areas near hill slopes.
He said the current flood situation in the country was still at level two and under control, with regulation still in the hands of the state management committees.
As of 2pm yesterday, the number of flood evacuees increased to 67,214 victims from 18,450 families taking shelter in 469 relief centres in 20 districts in five states.
Overall, since the monsoon hit the country in early November, 25,635 families have been placed in relief centres involving 92,157 evacuees in 11 states.
The government has also activated the flood operation control centre coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) involving various agencies, and which operates round the clock.
The government, said Amirzan, also welcomed any contribution from corporate bodies, non-governmental groups and private sector.
