PUTRAJAYA: Government machinery has been activated on the ground to deal with the “unexpected” floods in Kedah, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), he said, was always prepared for any disaster and that even though the floods in Kedah this time were unexpected, there would be full cooperation from the Federal Government to the state government and agencies on the ground to ensure victims are assisted.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, was commenting on the floods currently inundating parts of Kedah, after launching the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Ethics Guidelines here yesterday.
“These floods in Kedah were unexpected because of climate change.
“We do not hesitate to provide help when a disaster strikes and there is standard operating procedure in place.
“At the Nadma level, assistance was immediately deployed as soon as the floods hit in Kedah. This is why we have moved victims to flood shelters.
“The state government has announced aid. The Federal Government, too, will help,” he said.
Fadillah also noted long-term planning to mitigate the risks of flooding and to ensure steps are taken to prevent such disasters in the medium and long-term.
On Thursday, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said failure to move to flood relief centres or comply with procedures would cause victims to drop out of the list of government aid recipients.
The Kedah government announced RM1,000 in community welfare assistance to each head of household who moved to temporary flood evacuation centres (PPS) in the state.
Muhammad Sanusi said coordination of the initial aid was through the Disaster Operations Control Centre in each district.
He also said the Federal Government’s RM1,000 contribution would be distributed through Nadma and channelled by the Kedah State Development Office to each victim.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the number of flood evacuees in Kedah had risen to 6,087 as of 8am yesterday, compared to 4,425 the night before.
According to the disaster info report by the Social Welfare Department, 1,942 flood-affected families in the state had been relocated to 36 PPS across seven districts.
Kota Setar recorded the highest number, with 2,424 individuals, followed by Kubang Pasu (1,537), Pokok Sena (925), Pendang (806), Kuala Muda (184), Bandar Baharu (131) and Kulim (80).
The Infobanjir website of the Drainage and Irrigation Department stated that the number of rivers at danger level had decreased to six as of 8am.
They are Sungai Padang Terap, Kepala Batas; Sungai Bata, Kampung Bata; Sungai Laka, Kampung Padang Pasir (Kubang Pasu); Sungai Anak Bukit, Taman Aman; Sungai Anak Bukit at the TAR Bridge and Sungai Kedah at the Highway Bridge in Kota Setar.
