IPOH: Perak did not suffer major effects from the tropical storm Senyar that swept across several states, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Perak Mentri Besar however said they remain on full alert as heavy rain is expected to continue over the next few days.
He said the meteorological reports had initially listed Perak among the states likely to be impacted, but early assessments showed that the storm passed through Perak and Selangor before moving towards the South China Sea.
“At this point, we have not received any information indicating severe impact in Perak.
“Based on the public meteorological report, Perak was among the states involved, but it appears Selangor was the most affected,” he told reporters this at the sidelines of the state assembly sitting here on Friday (Nov 28).
Saarani said he visited Hilir Perak and Perak Tengah over the past two days, and said several temporary relief centres (PPS) had already been closed or reported fewer occupants as some evacuees returned home to check on their properties.
However, he cautioned that floods could recur as continuous rain is expected for another two to three days.
“I have instructed all district officers to remain on standby. With this weather, floodwaters may rise again, and houses where water had receded may be flooded once more, and the same victims may have to return to PPS,” he said.
Saarani said he also visited the state disaster management centre at the State Secretariat building, and said the facility was fully equipped to provide real-time updates on weather conditions and emergency coordination.
“Even though the operations room is small, it is equipped with all the necessary communication tools.
“The centre provides live updates to all district disaster committees, and the district officers will alert their teams accordingly,” he said.
He added that preparations across districts appear solid, with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) ensuring sufficient food supply and other essentials at PPS, including tents and sleeping arrangements.
“One of the complaints raised was the increase in mosquitoes, but fogging cannot be done due to the rain.
“Nevertheless, adjustments can be made to improve comfort,” he said.
Saarani said most major PPS were ready for activation, except for a few secondary schools currently turned into SPM examination halls.
“In Hilir Perak, we had to use one school, but we separated the exam hall from the accommodation area,” he added.
Despite the relatively mild impact of the storm on Perak, Saarani said the state would maintain full preparedness in case conditions worsen over the coming days.
