OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Recent extreme rainfall in Sarawak underscores urgent need for environmental resilience, says Len Talif
- Admin UKK
- Berita
KUCHING (Feb 20): Sarawak is strengthening its forest conservation efforts, acknowledging that reforestation and reduced logging play a critical role in mitigating the impact of climate change, including extreme weather events, said Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
The Natural Resources and Urban Development Deputy Minister stressed that maintaining forest cover is key to minimising the impact of climate change as deforestation reduces nature’s ability to regulate rainfall and prevent flooding.
“If we talk about climate change, we have to relate it to forest cover because forests play a crucial role in reducing its impact. This is why we must prioritise conservation while balancing development,” he said during an appreciation dinner for the media here yesterday.
He pointed out the recent extreme rainfall, which saw some areas recording up to 900mm in 24 hours — nearly a fifth of Bintulu’s annual average —underscored the urgent need for environmental resilience.
“With such unprecedented downpours becoming more frequent, safeguarding Sarawak’s forests is critical to mitigating future flood risks,” he said.
As part of its commitment to sustainable environmental management, Sarawak has implemented stricter logging regulations and expanded tree-planting initiatives.
The state has also reduced timber production to around two million cubic metres annually in compliance with forest management certification standards, reinforcing its long-term strategy for sustainable forestry.
“We have deliberately scaled back timber production and are focusing on planting more trees to conserve the environment,” Len Talif explained.
Beyond conservation, Sarawak is advancing its carbon trading initiatives as a sustainable approach to utilising its forest resources. Len Talif emphasised that the state is prioritising carbon trading over indiscriminate logging to ensure long-term environmental and economic benefits.
“We will not cut down trees recklessly. Instead, we want to make carbon trading an option to ensure our forests remain an asset that can be utilised sustainably,” he said.
Len Talif also linked these efforts to Sarawak’s broader green economy transition, which includes hydrogen energy and sustainable forestry initiatives.
He urged all stakeholders to actively support conservation efforts, as collective action is necessary to safeguard the state’s environmental future.
“We may be a small state on the world map, but we have a responsibility to protect our environment for future generations,” he stressed.
On another note, the media appreciation dinner was held to recognise media practitioners, particularly for their coverage of the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Convention here from Feb 14-16.
“I hope this cooperation continues so that we can convey necessary information to the public for their benefit,” Len Talif added.
KUALA LUMPUR – Timbalan Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man tidak perlu ‘melompat’ dengan tindakan Perdana Menteri yang mengarahkan Perbendaharaan dan Kementerian Ekonomi supaya memberi kelonggaran bagi mempercepatkan peruntukan untuk projek tebatan banjir
Pengarah Komunikasi Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK), Haziq Azfar berkata, arahan Anwar itu dapat menutup ruang elemen rasuah yang mungkin wujud sekaligus dapat menjimatkan wang kerajaan sehingga RM2 bilion.
Dakwa beliau, ia kerana projek tebatan banjir bernilai RM7 bilion itu dibuat secara rundingan terus dan melibatkan kartel projek yang mengaut margin untuk dijadikan habuan rasuah.
“Rasuah ini berakar umbi, jadi kita perlu tembak pada akar atau isu permasalahannya. Untuk menyelesaikan rasuah ini, ia berkaitan dengan sistem dan jadi inisiatif yang perlu dibawa adalah dari pelbagai peringkat dan usaha menutup ruang-ruang dan banyak lubang.
“Ini yang dibuat Kerajaan Madani tapi orang jahat pula yang cuba membuka ruang ini. Kalau sebelum ini kita tengok perolehan proje tebat banjir berbilion ringgit dan dibuat tender rundingan terus.
“Tapi apa yang Datuk Seri (Anwar Ibrahim) buat masuk tender, boleh jimat RM1 bilion ke RM2 bilion dan ini mengecilkan ruang para pelobi dan kartel projek ini untuk ada margin untuk diberikan habuan sebagai wang rasuah projek.
“Sebab itu bila ditender balik, yang paling melompat pembangkang, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yang katanya kenapa perlu tender balik sedang banyak projek loji rawatan air yang sakit, terbengkalai dan lewat di mana margin RM1 bilion hingga RM2 bilon yang menyamai bajet negeri,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian selepas muncul sebagai panelis pada program Dialog MG bertajuk Rasuah Berakar Umbi, Jangan Ingat Anak Muda Buta Tuli di ibu pejabat MalaysiaGazette di sini malam tadi.
Panelis lain yang terlibat adalah Ahli Parlimen Miri, Chiew Choon Man, Setiausaha Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah (SRBR), Muhammad Zaim Zulkifli Arif dan Ketua Penerangan Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (HARAM), Muhammad Fakrurazzi Khairur Rijal.
Baru-baru ini, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man menyifatkan tindakan Anwar mengarahkan Perbendaharaan dan Kementerian Ekonomi supaya memberi kelonggaran bagi mempercepatkan peruntukan untuk projek tebatan banjir sebagai pelik.
Ini kerana, kata bekas Menteri Alam Sekitar dan Air (KASA) itu, gesaan tersebut dibuat selepas Anwar pada 6 Disember 2022 mengarahkan beberapa kelulusan terakhir termasuk projek tebatan banjir bernilai RM7 bilion dibatal dan dihentikan serta-merta.
Dalam masa sama, beliau melahirkan rasa hairan berhubung alasan dan justifikasi Anwar yang mana akan berlaku penjimatan RM2 bilion selepas enam projek tebatan banjir ditamatkan.
Beliau tertanya-tanya bagaimana Anwar boleh membuat kesimpulan yang kurang matang berkenaan penjimatan sedangkan projek-projek ini belum lagi bermula ketika itu.
Mengulas lanjut, Haziq berkata, komitmen tinggi Anwar menangani rasuah sejak memimpin Kerajaan Perpaduan apabila beliau sedia menggubal Akta Pendanaan Politik perlu disegerakan dengan memfokuskan kepada pendanaan ketika kempen pilihan raya.
Malah tambah beliau, Perdana Menteri juga mengambil Langkah untuk memisahkan fungsi Peguam Negara dan Pendakwa Raya yang masih lagi dalam peringkat kajian.
Selain itu Anwar juga, kata Haziq, memberi jaminan akan meneliti kesan pelaksanaan cadangan untuk meletakkan Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) di bawah bidang kuasa Parlimen.
“Jadi berdasarkan kenyataan-kenyataan Perdana Menteri ini, jelas dari segi politic will itu ada cuma kalau kita lihat contoh di mana saya hendak berteki-teki tentang pemisahan Peguam Negara. Tahukah berapa akta yang perlu dipinda sekurang-kurangnya untuk memisahkan fungsi itu dan sumber terbuka adalah 19 akta termasuk Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
“Jadi ini menunjukkan satu perubahan yang besar dan untuk memisahkan kedua-dua ini melibatkan perkhidmatan, perjawatan dan time line cukup jelas iaitu pertengahan tahun ini dan boleh tunggu sikit.
“Kemudian Akta Pendanaan Politik sebab dalam kempen-kempen politik yang paling miskin dan derita adalah Pakatan Harapan di mana sampai kami dimarahi penyokong. Kenapa belanja iklan sikit sangat? Sedang Perikatan Nasional boleh berjuta-juta,” katanya.
Pada tahun 2023, kerajaan pada tahun mengumumkan merujuk cadangan penggubalan Akta Pendanaan Politik kepada Jawatankuasa Pilihan Khas Parlimen.
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Undang-Undang dan Reformasi Institusi), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said turut menjelaskan, Akta Pendanaan Politik sepatutnya dibentang bersama Akta Lompat Parti sebelum Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-15 (PRU15) lalu supaya ia dapat dilaksanakan secara bersama.
Namun, beliau berkata, perkara itu tidak dibuat kerana kebanyakan parti berasakan akta berkaitan lompat parti perlu diutamakan terlebih dahulu atas kesedaran tidak mahu Ahli Parlimen bertukar parti selepas pilihan raya. – MalaysiaGazette
SIBU (Feb 20): The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Sibu District has intensified its disaster preparedness with a search and rescue (SAR) drill to ensure its personnel are fully equipped to handle emergencies during the Northeast Monsoon.
The two-day exercise running from Feb 17-18 focused on strengthening response strategies and sharpening rescue skills crucial for flood and disaster scenarios.
Sibu District APM officer Mej (PA) Wan Mohd Jabir Wan Mohd Badrudin said early action is vital in any disaster and that the drill trained personnel to respond efficiently from the moment an incident is reported until the On-Site Command Post (PKTK) is fully operational.
“Officers and personnel underwent rigorous training to enhance their ability to manage real-life emergencies effectively,” he said when contacted yesterday.
The exercise covered essential SAR components, including rescue techniques, operational ethics, command post setup, and equipment handling. Personnel were also trained in assessing emergencies and establishing temporary shelters.
The recently concluded drill saw the participation of two permanent officers, one unit officer, three junior staff officers, and 30 other personnel.
Wan Mohd Jabir commended the team’s resilience throughout the drill, stating that both their physical and mental endurance remained strong.
“Our goal is to ensure that every officer and personnel is well-prepared for real-life disaster situations. We aim to continue strengthening our capabilities through ongoing training,” he added.
With the monsoon season posing risks of floods and other emergencies, APM Sibu’s proactive approach underscores the importance of preparedness, ensuring timely and effective disaster response when it matters most.
SIBU (Feb 20): A total of 10 victims whose houses at Rantau Panjang Jaya were struck by the landslide received financial aid from the Sibu MP Oscar Ling’s service centre recently.
Ling visited the victims to inspect the damage caused by the collapsed road.
He also met with worried homeowners and the disaster relief committee about the situation.
“The disaster relief committee needs to expedite the review and disbursement of repair funds for the damages caused by the landslide in the area,” he said.
Ling also doubted that the affected victims could stay in the event that the disaster relief centre closed, as renting alternate housing would add to the financial burden.
He highlighted the residents’ concerns that if repair work is not carried out immediately, further rainfall could worsen the landslide and potentially compromise the structural integrity of their homes.
On Feb 4, a landslide occurred at Lane 7 and Lane 12 of Rantau Panjang Jaya.
The incident involved eight families at Lane 7 and two families at Lane 12, who incurred losses as the landslide damaged the walls of their houses.
The residents are urging the relevant authorities to resolve the issue as it poses significant risks to their homes and safety.
KUALA LUMPUR: Jumlah mangsa banjir ditempatkan di pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di dua negeri yang dilanda bencana itu, meningkat setakat 8.30 malam ini.
Di PAHANG, mangsa banjir di daerah Bentong bertambah kepada 121 orang daripada 33 keluarga, berbanding 111 orang daripada 31 keluarga pada sebelah petang.
Menurut portal InfoBencana Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM), kesemua mereka ditempatkan di PPS Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Karak Setia, Bentong, iaitu terdiri daripada 78 individu dewasa, 38 kanak-kanak dan lima bayi.
Di NEGERI SEMBILAN, mangsa banjir di Jelebu meningkat 110 orang daripada 27 keluarga, berbanding 51 mangsa daripada 11 keluarga pagi tadi.
Pegawai Pertahanan Awam Daerah Jelebu Lt (PA) Mohd Najib Abdul Karim berkata hingga kini sebuah PPS dibuka iaitu di Dewan D'Sury, Jelebu bagi menempatkan mangsa dari Klawang dan Chennah yang terjejas.
Beliau berkata mereka terdiri daripada sembilan warga emas, 62 dewasa, 35 kanak-kanak serta empat bayi dari Ladang Jelebu, Taman Pekan Baru, Taman Bandar Tinggi dan Kampung Sepri, Chennah.
"Keadaan cuaca sekarang adalah baik dan hujan telah berhenti, bagaimanapun anggota kita masih memantau paras air di kawasan sungai berdekatan," katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.
Beliau berkata operasi menyelamatkan mangsa banjir melibatkan 17 anggota Angkatan Pertahanan Awam, bomba (10), polis (13), JKM (lima) dan Regimen Askar Melayu Diraja (lapan).
-- BERNAMA