KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Sabah should brace for continuous rain starting Thursday, according to an alert issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
It said continuous rain is expected in several areas in Kelantan and the whole of Terengganu from Nov 16 to 18.
“The areas involved in Kelantan are Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Pasir Puteh and Kuala Krai,” it said in a statement yesterday.
Pahang and Sabah are told to expect continuous rain from Nov 17 to 19.
“In Pahang, the areas involved are Jerantut, Kuantan and Pekan, while in Sabah, it involves the west coast (Ranau and Kota Belud), Sandakan (Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan) and Kudat,” the statement added, Bernama reported.
MetMalaysia, in a statement on Nov 7, has forecast four to six episodes of heavy rain during the northeast monsoon season, from Nov 11 until March 2024.
In Terengganu, the state government conducted a simulation exercise in preparation for potential floods during the northeast monsoon season, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
He said the state government is also in constant communication with MetMalaysia to monitor the weather conditions.
“According to MetMalaysia’s forecast, the northeast monsoon season was supposed to begin last Saturday with heavy rain, but, Alhamdulillah, it did not happen.
“However, we are always alert to any statements issued as a precautionary measure.
“We have already conducted a dry run at the grassroots level on how to deal with floods. Insya-Allah, we are prepared, but let us all pray that we do not face severe floods this time,” he told reporters after presenting appointment letters to Village Development and Security Committees in the Ru Rendang state constituency for the 2023-2025 term at the Marang District Council main hall here.
In Kelantan, more than 10 houses in Kampung Lepan Jaya, Gua Musang, were hit by flash floods following a two-hour downpour on Sunday.
However, no one was evacuated as flood water had begun to subside.
One of the residents, Siti Rosmalinda Mohd Yusoff, 34, said this was the second such incident in the village in two months after the first in September.
She said her house was inundated by 1m-deep water following heavy rain, which began at 5pm.
“Fortunately, we managed to remove our cars and motorcycles to higher ground. Floodwater rose to knee-level in under an hour,” she told reporters yesterday.
Another resident, Hazhari Hamat, 57, described the two flash floods as the worst since the “bah kuning” (yellow-coloured flood) incident in 2014.
“There have been several flash floods, believed to be due to the ongoing Lingkaran Tengah Utama (LTU) Expressway project in the adjacent area, and the nearby river is unable to accommodate excess rainwater,” he claimed.
Hazhari hopes that the relevant agencies will expedite maintenance work on drains in the village to help prevent flash floods in view of the current northeast monsoon season.
Meanwhile, in Perak, 347 flood victims from 101 families were still seeking shelter at five relief centres in two districts (Hilir Perak and Kerian) as of yesterday morning.
The Irrigation and Drainage Department reported that Sungai Bidor in Changkat Jong reached the danger level with a reading of 3.46m.
MetMalaysia predicted thunderstorms and rain in most districts in the state except for Bagan Datuk.
