KUANTAN: A fire that has engulfed some 113 hectares of forest and a pineapple plantation near Kampung Cenderawasih in Pekan since March 7 may have been caused by open burning but is not linked to any drug-related activities.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the peat soil area which has been burning for more than two weeks was not a drug 'port'.

Yahaya said the police had met the village headman and were informed that there was no information about the presence of drug addicts in the area, which is located on both government and privately-owned land.

"Based on our police records, the forest and plantation area is not used as a drug port, nor is it secluded or surrounded by large trees.

"It is also unlikely that individuals involved in drug activities would burn down their own port.

"I have instructed the Pekan police chief, Superintendent Mohd Zaidi Mat Zin, to visit the fire site and gather more information about the incident, including whether it was caused by open burning," he told reporters after visiting the Ramadan bazaars in Tanjung Lumpur yesterday.

On March 16, the Fire and Rescue Department claimed that the large-scale fire incident at Kampung Cenderawasih was likely set up by individuals involved in drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Yahaya said open burning by the nearby plantation owners is believed to be the main cause of the fire and they will work closely with the Fire and Rescue department to identify if any arson was involved.

Firemen are still battling the fire near Kampung Cenderawasih which has to date destroyed an area measuring 113ha. So far, 93.36 ha have been successfully doused.

The fire has destroyed 16.2ha of pineapple farms at Kampung Cenderawasih, resulting in losses of more than RM150,000

On a separate matter, Yahaya said Pahang police approved more than 200 applications for permits to sell fireworks for Hari Raya Aidilfitri from all 11 districts across the state this year.

He said Kuantan recorded the highest number of approved permits with 60 and reminded traders not to set up stalls selling fireworks without a permit.

JOHOR BARU: Heavy rain for several hours yesterday caused flooding in Johor, leading to the opening of 10 temporary relief centres (PPS) in three districts.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said 893 people from 257 families have been evacuated to the PPS as of 8 am today.

"Johor Bahru recorded the highest number of evacuees with 567 people, followed by Kulai (269) and Pontian (57).

"The water levels in three rivers have surpassed the danger mark, namely Sungai Siam at Kampung Sungai Siam (20.85 metres), Sungai Skudai at Kampung Laut (4.24 metres) and Parit Keliling at Kampung Pasir (1.01 metres)," he said in a statement today.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a severe-level continuous rain warning in Johor until Friday (March 21).

MetMalaysia said in a statement today that the areas forecast to be affected are Kluang, Mersing, Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru. It also issued an alert-level continuous rain warning in three — Pahang, Johor and Sabah — until Friday.

The areas forecast to be affected are Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin in Pahang; Tangkak, Segamat, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor; as well as the west coast (Ranau and Kota Belud), Sandakan (Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan) and Kudat in Sabah.

Meanwhile, a similar warning has been issued in Sarawak until tomorrow, involving the areas of Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit (Song and Kapit) and Bintulu. — Bernama

JOHOR BAHRU: Banjir sudah mula melanda negeri ini susulan hujan berterusan sejak semalam dan setakat jam 8 pagi ini, tiga daerah iaitu Johor Bahru, Kulai dan Pontian mencatatkan mangsa banjir yang terpaksa dipindahkan ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS).

Setakat pagi ini, sebanyak 10 PPS sudah dibuka dengan enam di Johor Bahru serta masing-masing dua di Kulai dan Pontian, berbanding hanya tiga PPS dibuka pada 9 malam tadi.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN) yang juga Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Johor, Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani berkata setakat ini terdapat 893 mangsa terdiri daripada 257 keluarga ditempatkan di semua PPS yang dibuka.

"Johor Bahru setakat ini yang teruk terjejas dengan 567 mangsa daripada 165 keluarga dipindahkan ke PPS, diikuti Kulai dengan merekodkan 269 mangsa daripada 76 keluarga.

"Pontian mencatatkan 57 mangsa daripada 16 keluarga dari Kampung Paya Embun, Kampung Pak Karib, Kampung Melayu Raya, Kampung Seri Meranti dan Kampung Parit Sikom yang kini dipindahkan ke PPS," katanya dalam kenyataan.

Sementara itu, Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia) sudah mengeluarkan amaran hujan lebat berterusan tahap buruk di enam daerah di negeri ini.

Amaran hujan lebat berterusan itu membabitkan daerah Johor Bahru, Kluang, Mersing, Pontian, Kulai dan Kota Tinggi yang dijangka berlaku hingga esok.

Amaran hujan berterusan tahap waspada pula dikeluarkan membabitkan daerah Tangkak, Segamat, Muar dan Batu Pajat, juga dijangka hingga esok.

Sungai Sayong yang juga sub lembangan Sungai Johor di Kulai merekodkan bacaan melepasi paras bahaya iaitu 20.85 meter, manakala dua sub lembangan Sungai Skudai di Johor Bahru turut merekodkan bacaan melepasi paras bahaya masing-masing 1.01 meter dan 4.24 meter.