GUA MUSANG, Oct 26 — Orang Asli living in remote areas have been urged to move to safe locations immediately if faced with the threat of floods, sudden torrents or landslides during the Northeast Monsoon (MTL), without waiting for conditions to become critical.

Kelantan and Terengganu Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) director Mohd Faedzyal Mohamed said all Tok Batin (Orang Asli village heads), penghulu (sub-district chiefs) and Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committees had been instructed to step up preparedness for the 2026/2027 Northeast Monsoon, which is expected to begin tomorrow and last until March next year.

He said the directive followed a statement issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department on Oct 23, which forecast three to five episodes of continuous heavy rain between November 2026 and January 2027.

Mohd Faedzyal said village leaders needed to identify high-risk areas, monitor weather changes and river levels, and identify residents who might require immediate assistance during emergencies.

“These conditions could lead to flooding, particularly in areas near rivers and low-lying terrain. Residents must remain vigilant and prioritise the safety of themselves and their families,” he told Bernama today.

Mohd Faedzyal also advised residents to avoid using roads or bridges that were damaged, collapsed or eroded, and not to cross fast-flowing rivers or rivers where water levels were rising rapidly.

Sufficient supplies of food, clean drinking water, medicines and other essentials should be prepared, while important documents should be kept in a safe place in case evacuation became necessary, he advised. 

Meanwhile, Galas assemblyman Datuk Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said more than 1,000 Orang Asli heads of households in Pos Bihai, Pos Belatim, Pos Balar and Pos Hau were at risk of being cut off during the monsoon season because the dirt roads in the areas were vulnerable to heavy rain.

He said routes at Bukit Pasir, Bukit Kelabu, Bukit Sabun and Bukit Piyel needed regular maintenance to reduce risks to road users.

Mohd Syahbuddin also advised residents to avoid travelling during heavy rain and to contact JAKOA if they required emergency assistance. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has stepped up inter-agency preparedness measures to address the Super El Nino phenomenon, which is already showing early effects in the country.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the national agrofood sector was facing mounting challenges due to the conflict in West Asia and the threat of extreme heat and prolonged dry weather, which could disrupt the supply of staple foods.

He said particular attention was being given to monitoring dam water levels, especially at the Ahning Dam in Kedah, where levels remained at alert and warning thresholds, posing a risk to padi cultivation in the major Muda granary area.

“The ministry has mobilised inter-agency preparedness measures through an integrated approach and the use of technology.

“These include implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), expanding the Smart Irrigation Monitoring System, introducing alternative water management methods for padi cultivation and promoting Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) to ensure sustainable water security,” he said when winding up debate on the Supply Bill 2027 for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. 

Mohamad said extensive preparations were also under way in the fisheries sector, as rising sea temperatures were altering fish distribution patterns, affecting aquaculture water quality and threatening reef ecosystems.

He said capture fisheries and aquaculture production in affected areas could decline by 5,624 metric tonnes, or 1.5 per cent, this year.

To address these challenges, he said the ministry had taken proactive measures, including the use of early weather warning systems, the MyFSI location tracking system and the Aquaculture Disaster Mitigation Plan, alongside the implementation of the Fisheries Sector Climate Change Action Plan 2024-2030.

“Under Budget 2027, RM125.9 million in fiscal support has been allocated, including RM30 million for an additional 3,000 special small-boat licences, RM30 million for Agro BioFloc financing, RM10 million for Capture Fisheries Catalyst Financing and RM2.3 million for biofisheries and biosecurity initiatives,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohamad assured that the country’s frozen fish reserves were being increased, with total stocks reaching 10,000 metric tonnes as of Sept 30 to prepare for the Super El Nino phenomenon and the Northeast Monsoon.

Overall, he said the ministry received an allocation of RM6.92 billion under Budget 2027, comprising RM4.85 billion for operating expenditure and RM2.07 billion for development expenditure.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting continues today. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Samalaju, Sarawak menjadi satu-satunya kawasan di negara ini yang merekodkan bacaan indeks pencemaran udara (IPU) pada tahap tidak sihat setakat jam 7 pagi tadi.

Semakan menerusi laman sesawang Sistem Indeks Pencemaran Udara (APIMS), Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) mendapati Samalaju merekodkan bacaan IPU 151.

Sebanyak 42 lagi kawasan merekodkan bacaan IPU pada tahap sederhana termasuk Bintulu, Serian, Sibu, Batu Muda, Kluang dan Kuching.

Selain itu, 25 lagi stesen merekodkan bacaan IPU pada tahap baik termasuk Port Dickson, Limbang, Bandaraya Melaka, Tanah Merah dan Kemaman.

Bacaan IPU sifar hingga 50 menunjukkan kualiti udara baik manakala 51 hingga 100 sederhana, 101 hingga 200 tidak sihat, 201 hingga 300 sangat tidak sihat dan IPU melebihi 300 berada pada tahap berbahaya.

KUALA TERENGGANU – Monsun Timur Laut (MTL) yang akan bermula hari ini dijangka berlangsung dengan ‘lebih aman’ tanpa berlakunya banjir besar luar biasa.

Pensyarah Kanan Fakulti Sains dan Sekitaran Marin, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Dr. Chung Jing Xiang berkata, risiko berlakunya banjir besar pada musim tengkujuh kali ini amat rendah ekoran taburan hujan yang bakal turun diramal tidak selebat berbanding tahun-tahun sebelum ini.

Biarpun tiga hingga lima episod hujan diramal berlaku pada fasa awal MTL sehingga Januari tahun depan, taburan hujan yang turun dijangka tidak terlalu lebat disebabkan cuaca ekstrem.

“Keberlangsungan fenomena Super El Nino terutama mulai Disember depan akan mengurangkan kelembapan Lautan Pasifik sekali gus menyebabkan hujan lebat berterusan kurang berlaku pada musim tengkujuh kali ini.

“Ketiadaan hujan terlalu lebat tersebut sekali gus mengurangkan risiko banjir besar luar biasa terutama di Pantai Timur seperti berlaku pada tahun 2013, 2014 dan 2022,” katanya ketika dihubungi Kosmo! di sini semalam.

Terdahulu Jabatan Meteo­rologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia) memaklumkan MTL akan bermula hari ini sehingga Mac tahun depan.

Terdahulu Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia), Dr. Mohd. Hisham Mohd. Anip mendedahkan sebelum ini sepanjang tempoh tersebut, tiga hingga lima episod hujan lebat berterusan diramal berlaku sehingga Januari tahun depan.

Beliau menyatakan begitupun selepas itu sehingga penghujung MTL pada Mac hadapan, taburan hujan dijangka berkurangan.

Dalam pada itu Jiang Xiang berkata, walaubagaimanapun, kejadian banjir dalam skala kecil dijangka masih berlaku di kawasan rendah dan berhampiran pesisir pantai dan tebing sungai.

Beliau juga menasihatkan penduduk setempat dan pihak berkuasa tidak terlalu selesa sebalik masih perlu peka dengan kemungkinan berlakunya kacauan atmosfera luar jangka se­perti lekukan Borneo dan luruan sejuk.

“Fenomena kacauan atmosfera berkenaan sekiranya terjadi masih boleh mencetuskan hujan yang sangat lebat terutama di Pantai Timur.

“Sekiranya ia berlaku, risiko berlakunya banjir besar akan kembali meningkat,” tambah beliau.