OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
KOTA KINABALU, Feb 24 — The federal government will implement various measures, including artificial intelligence technology, to mitigate flooding issues in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the irrigation and drainage department is working closely with the Meteorological Department and the Department of Minerals and Geology, and other relevant agencies will collaborate to manage and reduce the risk of floods.
“For long-term disaster management, will implement comprehensive flood mitigation plans. This includes using artificial intelligence and the latest technology to enhance disaster response and risk reduction,” he said when speaking to reporters at the launching of the Lido flood mitigation project site in Penampang here.
“We urge residents in high-risk areas to strictly follow evacuation instructions when early warnings are issued. This will allow for timely evacuations, reducing risks to flood victims,” he said.
In a separate development, Nadma will soon be partnering with Bank Simpanan Nasional to ensure transparency and efficient disbursement of aid to disaster victims.
The government previously relied on district offices and Village Development and Security Committees (JKKK) to disburse the funds which he said was for flood victims who had to be evacuated to temporary evacuation centres (PPS).
However, some flood victims did not stay at these centres.
“Therefore, starting this year, Nadma and the Ministry of Finance have changed the distribution method, moving away from the conventional system. We have held discussions to ensure that relocated flood victims receive the aid directly through BSN,” he said.
He also said that Sabah and Sarawak have requested that the aid also be extended to flood victims who did not move to the centres..
Ahmad Zahid, who leads the Central Disaster Management Committee, also said that 14 flood mitigation projects are underway in Sabah, while 10 are planned for Sarawak.
“The meeting also approved the construction of a permanent disaster evacuation centre (PPKB) in Long Busang, Belaga, Sarawak. Nadma will collaborate with the Education Ministry to develop similar centres in other areas. Currently, the only existing PPKB is at Dewan Serbaguna Taman Kota Jaya, Kota Tinggi, Johor,” he said.
This year, floods displaced 9,735 people in Sabah, forcing them into 68 temporary evacuation centres. The disaster also damaged public infrastructure, including suspension bridges in Kota Marudu and Pitas. In Sarawak, more than 37,000 households were affected.
KOTA KINABALU: Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) telah berunding dengan Kementerian Kewangan (MOF) mengenai kaedah penyaluran agihan Bantuan Wang Ihsan kepada mangsa banjir, yang akan dibuat menerusi Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) tahun ini.
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negara berkata ia bagi mengubah cara penyampaian konvensional sebelum ini, iaitu agihan melalui Pejabat Daerah dan Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK).
Beliau berkata sebelum ini Bantuan Wang Ihsan telah diserahkan kepada kerajaan negeri untuk diagihkan kepada mangsa banjir yang berpindah ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS), namun ada kalangan mangsa banjir didapati tidak tinggal di PPS.
"Sehubungan itu mulai tahun ini NADMA dan Kementerian Kewangan mengubah cara agihannya, tidak lagi melalui sistem kovensional. Kita adakan rundingan supaya senarai mangsa banjir dipindahkan ini mendapat bantuan wang ehsan melalui BSN.
"Ertinya mereka boleh pergi ke BSN untuk menuntut Bantuan Wang Ihsan berkenaan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melawat Rancangan Tebatan Banjir (RTB) Persekitaran Kawasan Lido Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu di sini hari ini.
Ahmad Zahid berkata ada permintaan daripada kerajaan Sabah dan Sarawak supaya penyaluran Bantuan Wang Ihsan itu turut disalurkan kepada mangsa banjir yang tidak berpindah ke PPS.
"Dalam perkara ini kami telah melakukan beberapa urusan melalui tatakelola untuk pengesahan bahawa mereka benar-benar mangsa banjir yang telah terjejas. Kita akan dapatkan pengesahan daripada Jawatankuasa Bencana Daerah untuk pengesahan," katanya.
Sementara itu Ahmad Zahid berkata Monsun Timur Laut (MTL) baru-baru ini mengakibatkan kira-kira 223,000 mangsa banjir yang telah dipindahkan.
"Kita telah menyediakan PPS secukupnya yang mampu menampung kira-kira 2.1 juta mangsa banjir," katanya, yang turut mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua pihak terutama yang gigih membantu rakyat terkesan akibat bencana tersebut.
-- BERNAMA
Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad says regular monitoring of Sungai Kreh has shown persistent poor water quality.
KUALA LUMPUR:Pollution from pig farms is believed to be polluting a river in Penang, with tests showing poor water quality, says natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
Nik Nazmi told the Dewan Rakyat today that five readings from Sungai Kreh, near Tasek Gelugor, showed a high ammoniacal nitrogen sub-index, suggesting inflows of waste, likely from animal sewage or fertilisers.
He said regular monitoring by the environment department had shown persistently poor water quality.
“This is likely due to the discharge of untreated pig farm waste, as there is no operational sewage treatment plant in the area.
“We have also conducted an odour pollution study at Kampung Selamat in Tasek Gelugor, with monitoring carried out at 13 locations in the area,” he said.
Nik Nazmi said the department had shared its findings with the relevant agencies in Penang, such as the veterinary services department and the Seberang Perai City Council.
He said while all inspected industrial premises in the area comply with the Environmental Quality Act 1974, the disposal of pig farm waste does not fall under the environment department’s jurisdiction.
He was responding to Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas), who raised concerns over the disposal of pig farm sewage into the river.
The Penang government said last November it had stepped up enforcement to curb pollution from pig farms, pushing them to convert from open farm systems to closed systems to improve waste management.
According to a written reply to a PN assemblyman in Penang, 117 farms have adopted the system as of 2024, with Kampung Valdor now sending waste to a biogas facility instead of discharging into rivers.
In Seberang Perai Utara, where Tasek Gelugor is located, farms are required to install solid waste separators and maintain sewage ponds treated with beneficial bacteria and fungi to break down waste, reduce odour and improve water and soil quality.
A total of 50 farms were penalised as of November, mainly in Seberang Perai Utara (33) and Seberang Perai Selatan (15).
Farms exceeding the 50ppm biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) limit face fines of at least RM5,000. A total of 519 compound notices have been issued since 2022.
BOD measures how much oxygen is needed to break down waste in water, with higher readings indicating more pollution and less oxygen for aquatic life.
KOTA KINABALU (Feb 24): The Sabah State Government will collaborate with all stakeholders to combat climate change and its challenges, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
He said the State Government is taking steps in this direction, including agroforestry programmes, organic farming incentives, and community-based conservation projects aimed at building resilience among local populations.
“However, these efforts require sustained support not only from within Malaysia but also from international partners committed to fostering sustainable development,” he said at the Kinabalu Convention 2025: Food Security, Climate Change and Investment at the Magellan Sutera Resort here on Monday.
His speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister/Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
He said addressing food insecurity and climate change requires more than goodwill since it demands substantial financial resources and strategic partnerships.
“The private sector is called upon to get involved and complement efforts by the government. We invite businesses, investors and all like-minded organisations to explore green investments to address these issues,” he said.
According to a recent estimate by the United Nations (UN Report 2023), globally, nearly 733 million people face hunger every day, while rising food prices, supply chain disruptions, and extreme weather events have only exacerbated this crisis, he said.
“For Malaysia, and especially for Sabah, our reliance on imported staples like rice and wheat makes us vulnerable to external shocks, making food security a pressing concern,” he said.
Hajiji said addressing food security begins with confronting its root cause, which is climate change.
In Sabah, rising temperatures, unpredictable monsoon seasons, and intensified storms are devastating crops, destroying livelihoods, and displacing families, he said, adding coastal areas were increasingly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources, further jeopardising both agriculture and drinking water supplies.
He said that worsening these challenges was deforestation, eroding ecosystems critical for carbon sequestration and biodiversity.
“While these trends are alarming, they are not irreversible. Combating climate change is not only an environmental necessity but also a moral obligation to future generations.
“By investing in renewable energy, promoting reforestation, and adopting climate-smart agriculture, we can mitigate the worst effects of global warming and secure long-term food availability,” he said
The Chief Minister said the convention offered an opportune platform to discuss, share knowledge and commit to concrete actions that included strengthening regional cooperation, promoting sustainable agriculture and empowering local communities.
PENAMPANG (Feb 24): The flood disaster in Sabah early this year affected a total of 3,120 household heads (KIR) involving 9,735 victims who were relocated to 68 temporary evacuation centres (PPS), said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the central disaster management committee, said that Sabah experienced two flood episodes: the first from 17 to 20 January, involving three districts, while the second episode took place from 27 January to 16 February, affecting 14 districts.
“The flood disaster in Sabah also caused damage to several public infrastructure, such as suspension bridges in Kota Marudu and Pitas districts,” he said in a statement that was issued following the National Disaster Management No.1/2025 High Level Committee meeting held at the Federal Secretary’s Office in Sabah on Monday.
He explained that the meeting discussed issues and solutions related to the flood disaster situation in the Sabah and Sarawak regions, which have been affected since January 2025.
Ahmad Zahid also said that Sabah experienced the highest average rainfall of 900mm, compared to the usual 450mm during the 2024/2025 Northeast Monsoon (MTL).
He added that data recorded a total of 5,012 heads of households (KIR) involving 16,670 victims affected by the floods who took shelter in 85 PPS. However, 32,901 families were affected by the floods but did not relocate to PPS,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid also said that a total of 60 KIR involving 209 victims took shelter at the Dewan Kampung Sukan Petronas following the landslide at Kampung Lereng Bukit, Miri.
He said that the Sarawak State Government is currently identifying temporary housing areas to relocate these families to provide comfort for elderly people, children and pregnant women, especially while Kampung Lereng Bukit is being rebuilt and slope issues are being addressed.
“Sarawak estimates that 1,335 public infrastructure projects have been damaged and require immediate repairs and maintenance due to the recent floods,” he said.
He added that to address the flood disaster, flood mitigation projects are being implemented by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) and will be closely monitored to ensure no delays that could impact efforts to reduce floods once the projects are completed.
“The government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, is highly prioritising this issue and is committed to ensuring that all flood mitigation projects are carried out efficiently, effectively, and according to schedule for the safety and well-being of the people,” he assured.
He said that in Sabah, a total of 14 flood mitigation projects will be implemented.
“Two flood mitigation projects have been completed and are in the defect liability period, ten projects are under construction, and two projects are in the pre-implementation phase,” he said.
As for Sarawak, a total of ten flood mitigation projects have been planned, two of which have been completed and are also in the defect liability period, two projects are under construction, and six projects are in the pre-implementation phase, he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that as an immediate measure, the meeting has approved the construction of a Permanent Disaster Evacuation Centre (PPKB) in Long Busang, Belaga district, Sarawak.
He said that for the PPKBs in other areas, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) will cooperate with the Ministry of Education.
“As of now, only one PPKB has been built in Johor, which is located at Dewan Serbaguna Taman Kota Jaya, Kota Tinggi.
“For the long-term mitigation plan, NADMA, together with JPS, will implement the plan, including leveraging AI and the latest technology, particularly in disaster management and risk reduction,” he said.