BAGAN DATUK: Preparations are in full swing for a potentially more severe Northeast Monsoon this year, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Deputy Prime Minister said preparations involved close coordination between the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and disaster management committees at state and district levels, as this year’s Northeast Monsoon is expected to have a more severe impact than in previous years following an El Nino episode that affected many countries, particularly in Asean.
“Nadma, in collaboration with all enforcement agencies, has identified hotspots where unusually heavy rainfall is expected,” he told a press conference after attending the “2026 Deepavali Santunan Kasih” event, yesterday.
Asked whether certain states would be the main focus during the monsoon season, Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan, Terengganu, the northern states, particularly Kedah, as well as southern states comprising Johor, Melaka and Negri Sembilan were frequently affected by the Northeast Monsoon.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said responsibilities had been assigned to rescue agencies, while the Social Welfare Department (JKM) was prepared with stockpiles of food aid and fully equipped evacuation tents, with additional support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
On Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates who would be sitting for their examinations during the monsoon season, he assured that the welfare of the students and the smooth conduct of their examinations remained a priority for the government.
He said he had discussed the matter with Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek at a recent Cabinet meeting, with contingency plans being drawn up to accommodate affected students at school hostels.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said improvements to the Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) compassionate aid scheme, introduced last year, would continue, with RM1,000 in aid channelled directly to each family while they were at temporary relief centres.
The measure would enable flood victims to use the assistance immediately upon returning home to clean their houses and replace damaged household items, provided they had officially relocated to a relief centre, to prevent leakages, he said.
“However, those who do not relocate, even if their names are on the list, will not receive the assistance.
“They must move to a relief centre to ensure the funds are not misappropriated or channelled to other parties,” he said, as reported by Bernama.
At the event, Ahmad Zahid also presented Deepavali essential supplies to 2,000 B40 households across the Bagan Datuk parliamentary constituency, as well as RM100 each in year-end educational assistance to 700 pupils from Tamil National-type Schools (SJKT), involving a total allocation of RM70,000.
He also presented Smartboard TVs to all 16 SJKTs in the constituency to support digital learning facilities.
In addition, he presented educational assistance of RM3,000 to each of the 12 kindergartens serving the Indian community in Bagan Datuk, involving a total allocation of RM36,000.
