TUMPAT: Fishermen and anglers heading to sea during the northeast monsoon season have been advised to go out in groups and not alone.

Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Erwan Shah Soahdi said the precaution was necessary to prevent unwanted incidents at sea.

"The northeast monsoon is expected to arrive soon and we are already seeing signs of it hitting the state.

"As a precaution, I would like to advise local fishermen as well as those planning to go fishing not to head out alone.

"It is safer if they go in groups as this will allow them to help each other in case of accidents or emergencies," he told reporters during routine surveillance along the border today.

Erwan Shah said the agency would continue with its patrols during the monsoon period.

He said MMEA patrols would be carried out using five boats and three ships, covering the agency's area of responsibility spanning 22,000 sqkm.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) today issued a thunderstorm warning for multiple states, with heavy rain and strong winds expected until 6pm.

The warning covers Perlis; Kedah (Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Pendang, Sik and Baling); Perak (Hulu Perak); Kelantan (Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang and Pasir Puteh); Terengganu (Besut and Setiu); Pahang (Bera and Pekan); and Negri Sembilan (Jempol).

PERSATUAN Insurans Am Malaysia (PIAM) melihat insurans pemilik rumah dan isi rumah sebagai perlindungan kewangan yang semakin kritikal ketika risiko gempa bumi dan banjir menunjukkan peningkatan.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PIAM, Chua Kim Soon berkata, polisi komprehensif itu menawarkan perlindungan terhadap kebakaran serta risiko lain seperti gempa bumi, banjir dan ribut, sekali gus mengukuhkan daya tahan kewangan pemilik kediaman.

Katanya, kejadian gempa bumi turut dirasai di Sabah dan beberapa kawasan di Semenanjung baru-baru ini menjadi peringatan bahawa Malaysia tidak terkecuali daripada risiko bencana alam, termasuk banjir dan ribut kuat.

"Pemilik rumah wajar menilai semula perlindungan insurans mereka, memandangkan kenaikan nilai hartanah dan ketidaktentuan iklim semakin menambah risiko terhadap kediaman.

The system is the second in the country under the mobile integrated radio and internet communication system known as Prime. The other unit covers Peninsular Malaysia.
Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said the system would be used specifically when disasters strike, and it will assist the teams to carry out operations, Bernama reported.

He gave the example of the landslide tragedy at the camping site in Batang Kali two years ago, when an internet problem made it difficult for security personnel and news teams to carry out their tasks.

“So, if Prime can be deployed to the incident site, then this problem can be resolved,” he said in Tawau. Fahmi said the Prime technology will be expanded to community areas that lack internet access.

For a start, the unit in Sabah will be deployed to the Kalabakan parliamentary constituency, where various programmes will be implemented, such as a safe internet campaign and digital literacy among the communities.

The Prime system involves the use of satellite, cellular networks, mobile radio, Wi-Fi and drone technology.

The Perak fire and rescue department said three other men were rescued.

Firefighters sent to the scene at 5pm rescued the three men trapped in a sand pump while the fourth man was completely buried and confirmed dead at the scene.

“According to witnesses, two workers saw the soil around the excavation area begin to collapse and fall into a 3m-deep drain they were digging,” a statement said.

Three victims, aged between 28 and 38, were rescued at about 6.30pm after being buried up to chest level. They were injured. The body of the fourth victim, a 26-year-old man, was recovered at 8pm.