BATU PAHAT: The establishment of permanent flood relief centres is a major step towards strengthening Malaysia’s disaster preparedness while ensuring flood victims are provided with safer and more comfortable accommodation during emergencies, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the Permanent Disaster Relief Centre (PPKB) in Sri Medan here is the first purpose-built permanent flood relief centre in the country to be constructed entirely on a new site, with Batu Pahat chosen due to its frequent flooding incidents.
“The government has allocated more than RM7.6mil for this project. When it involves the safety, welfare and lives of the people, this allocation is not merely a cost but the government’s responsibility to protect the rakyat during disasters,” he said at the launch and operational simulation of the PPKB located within SK Sri Medan here yesterday (June 28).
Ahmad Zahid who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister said the government was also embracing new technologies, including early warning systems that can identify areas expected to experience exceptionally heavy rainfall, to improve disaster preparedness before floods occur.
He said the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), had significantly strengthened disaster management through better coordination with the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Fire and Rescue Department, police, Armed Forces, Welfare Department and other frontline agencies.
“We do not want to be caught off guard when an entire year’s worth of rainfall falls within just a few days. Better coordination allows evacuation and disaster response to be carried out much earlier,” he added.
He also said Malaysia’s disaster management capabilities have gained international recognition, adding that Nadma and its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) are among the best disaster response units in Asia, with Smart receiving recognition from the United Nations.
On the new facility, Ahmad Zahid said Batu Pahat had experienced 17 flood incidents between 2022 and this year, making the construction of a permanent relief centre a necessity instead of relying solely on schools as temporary evacuation centres.
He said using schools as temporary relief centres had often disrupted lessons, affected school facilities and caused inconvenience to both pupils and flood victims.
“I do not want flood relief centres to merely provide shelter. I want the victims to be comfortable,” he said, adding that the facility could accommodate up to 500 evacuees and was equipped with cooking areas, a surau, water supply, sanitation facilities as well as amenities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
He said disaster victims deserved not only temporary shelter but also a safe, comfortable and dignified environment while waiting to return home after floodwaters receded.
He added that the PPKB would also function as a community facility outside the flood season, hosting community programmes, emergency preparedness training and recreational activities to ensure it remained fully utilised throughout the year.
He also said that Johor was expected to receive two additional permanent flood relief centres, saying more such facilities were needed as Batu Pahat alone had recorded some 36,000 flood evacuees between 2022 and this year.
Ahmad Zahid also instructed Nadma to adopt a 10-year planning framework instead of focusing solely on five-year development plans, saying long-term planning was crucial to address the growing impact of climate change and global warming on the country’s disaster landscape.
