THE government is bracing for possible second and third waves of flooding, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warned, as disaster response efforts continue nationwide.

Zahid said the unusual weather pattern triggered by the Senyar tropical storm over the Strait of Malacca had caused severe floods in areas that had never been affected before.

“This is unusual and extraordinary, caused by the Senyar tropical storm forming in the Strait of Malacca.

“Strong wind surges usually come from Vietnam or the Philippines, but this time they are coming from the Strait of Malacca, affecting the west coast which has rarely been hit.

“We must always be prepared,” he said, adding that the government remained concerned over possible second and third waves of floodings.

“Fortunately, we had carried out a nationwide preparedness month in Jerantut, Pahang, last month, coordinating efforts at national, state and district levels. This year, coordination will be even better,” he said.

Zahid, who is National Disaster Management Committee (Nadma) chairman, said this after being briefed on the nationwide flood situation at the Bagan Datuk Land and District Office here yesterday.

The Bagan Datuk member of parliament visited several evacuation centres in the district, as well as at his own village at Kampung Sungai Nipah Barat, which was also inundated.

Zahid said Malaysia was fortunate that the early warning system issued by the Meteorological Department, along with alerts from the Irrigation and Drainage Department, enabled evacuations to begin three days before peak flooding.

He said that over 30,000 flood victims were evacuated at one point but with rainfall reducing and water levels receding, only about 12,000 were still at evacuation centres nationwide.

He said the government was focused on ensuring the welfare of the evacuees.

Zahid said relief assistance of RM1,000 would be distributed to victims as early yesterday, including those at the centres.

The rural and regional development minister, said that under normal procedures, aid was distributed three days after the closure of the centres.

“My directive is that the aid can be given even while they (victims) are still in the centres. I have instructed that assistance starts today (yesterday) because they urgently need money to replace household items that were damaged.”

He said special arrangements had been made for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia candidates, with 100 students relocated to a hall at Masjid Tuminah Hamidi here to sit the examination.

Zahid expressed gratitude to agencies and volunteers who responded swiftly.

He described the flood incident as unprecedented, noting that the district had not experienced flooding of this scale in over five decades.

He highlighted an issue in Bagan Datuk, where a major pipe had burst, disrupting water supply to the evacuation centres and surrounding residential areas.

“I have requested the cooperation of the Perak Water Board to bring in water tankers and pump water into the main tanks at the centres, ensuring residents have uninterrupted access.

“Permanent and mobile pumps have been deployed. Extra pumps were mobilised because water in this area tends to stagnate for long periods.”