KATHMANDU: Nepal memutuskan untuk menghentikan fasa mencari dan menyelamat yang dilancarkan susulan banjir dahsyat di sungai Bhotekoshi dan Trishuli pada 26 Ogos lalu selepas harapan untuk menemukan mangsa yang masih hilang semakin tipis 40 hari selepas bencana itu, kata Sekretariat Perdana Menteri pada Isnin, lapor Xinhua.

Mesyuarat Majlis Kebangsaan Pengurangan dan Pengurusan Risiko Bencana yang dipengerusikan Perdana Menteri, Balendra Shah, mengarahkan agensi berkaitan mempercepatkan usaha pembinaan semula dan pemulihan, sambil meneruskan hanya operasi mencari yang penting.

Sekretariat itu berkata, keputusan berkenaan dibuat berdasarkan syor Jawatankuasa Keselamatan Daerah, Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Daerah, Jawatankuasa Eksekutif Pihak Berkuasa Pengurangan dan Pengurusan Risiko Bencana Kebangsaan (NDRRMA) serta hasil pemeriksaan di lapangan.

Seramai 1,455 orang disahkan maut, manakala 5,285 lagi masih hilang setakat 3 Oktober susulan banjir besar itu, menurut NDRRMA.

Mesyuarat itu turut memutuskan untuk mencadangkan peruntukan sebanyak 559.18 bilion rupee Nepal (AS$3.62 bilion) kepada Kementerian Kewangan bagi pelan dan program membina semula serta memulihkan kawasan yang terjejas akibat banjir dan bencana lain berkaitan musim monsun.

Dalam mesyuarat itu, Shah berkata, usaha pengurusan bencana dilaksanakan melalui penyelarasan antara kerajaan persekutuan, kerajaan wilayah dan kerajaan tempatan.

Beliau berkata, usaha pembinaan semula dan pemulihan juga akan dilaksanakan menerusi mekanisme yang sama. – BERNAMA-XINHUA

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 6): A total of 10 work packages for the Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway (LPB) project have been fully completed, while another package, WP11, had reached 99.9 per cent completion as of March 31, 2026.

In a statement on the Auditor General’s Report (LKAN) 2/2026 yesterday, the National Audit Department (JAN) said the achievement of the Sarawak LPB project’s objectives could not yet be assessed as the project had not been fully completed.

“The audit revealed weaknesses in contract management and governance. Specifically, claims amounting to RM1.780 billion for utility relocation and reinstatement works had not been executed, while payments totalling RM32.07 million were made for a Project Information System that became inaccessible after the agreement period ended,” the statement said.

LKAN 2/2026, which covers the Federal Government’s Financial Statements for 2025, the activities of Federal Government ministries and departments, as well as the financial statements and activities of state governments, agencies, ministries and departments, and the management of state-owned companies, was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Meanwhile, Phase 1 of the Sabah LPB project, planned since 2015 and comprising 35 work packages spanning 706 kilometres, remains unfinished after more than a decade.

JAN reported that as of March 31, 2026, only four work packages, or 11.4 per cent, with a total original cost of RM567 million, had been completed, while the remaining 31 work packages, or 88.6 per cent, valued at RM16.319 billion, were still under implementation.

“Of the 31 projects currently under implementation, nine work packages are classified as ‘sick’ projects, 13 are behind schedule, and nine are ahead of schedule.

“Project management issues identified as serious irregularities include the approval of Variation Orders (VO) exceeding authorised limits, amounting to RM513.99 million, and delays in utility cost claims for completed projects totalling RM41.37 million,” the statement said.

LKAN 2/2026 also focuses on several key national infrastructure projects, namely Phase 1 of the Sabah LPB project and the Sarawak LPB project, as well as the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project (PLSB) in Kelantan and the Coastal Conservation Programme.

Regarding the PLSB, JAN reported that the project had not been completed in accordance with the stipulated scope, timeline, cost and quality standards.

Phase 1 had experienced delays, with an Extension of Time (EOT) approved until July 21, 2027, superseding the completion date of Aug 13, 2024, stipulated in the supplementary agreement.

Implementation of Phase 2 has also been stalled due to delays in the procurement process.

“The audit identified weaknesses in project planning, inter-agency coordination, scope change management, contract administration, design control, construction execution and the management of consultant appointments.

“These weaknesses resulted in design changes, increased project costs, implementation delays, structural damage to the pump house, the construction of temporary structures and non-compliance with contract requirements,” the statement said.

JAN said if the weaknesses were not comprehensively addressed, the project’s objectives, namely providing flood protection for the Golok River Basin, safeguarding residential and agricultural areas, and strengthening security in high-risk border areas, would continue to be delayed while increasing the government’s financial implications.

Meanwhile, JAN reported that based on 10 completed projects, the nationwide Coastal Conservation Programme had achieved its objectives of protecting vulnerable coastal areas from erosion, reducing coastal flood risks and providing navigational channels.

However, the audit also identified weaknesses in the implementation of the Kuala Nerus Coastal Erosion Control Project in Terengganu, which experienced a 15.7 per cent, or 144-day, delay.

The delay was attributed to a shortage of machinery, a lack of construction activity at Breakwaters No. 1, 2, 3 and 9, as well as delays by the contractor in obtaining Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for the beach nourishment component.

“To address this issue, coordination between the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) must be strengthened so that Breakwaters No. 7 and 8 can be completed immediately, before the Northeast Monsoon season, to prevent the collapse of roads that have already been repaired,” the statement said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tiga kawasan di Lembah Klang iaitu Putrajaya, Cheras dan Batu Muda merekodkan bacaan Indeks Pencemar Udara (IPU) antara 20 tertinggi di seluruh negara setakat pagi ini.

Berdasarkan data terkini Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS), Putrajaya mencatatkan bacaan IPU 152, sekali gus berada di tangga ke-12 tertinggi, manakala Cheras merekodkan 137 di kedudukan ke-15.

Batu Muda pula mencatatkan bacaan 103, berada di tangga ke-18 dalam senarai berkenaan.

Bacaan IPU antara 101 hingga 200 dikategorikan sebagai tidak sihat, yang bermakna kualiti udara di kawasan terbabit boleh memberi kesan kepada kesihatan, terutama golongan sensitif seperti kanak-kanak, warga emas dan individu yang mempunyai masalah pernafasan atau penyakit kronik.

Dalam perkembangan sama, beberapa kawasan di Johor merekodkan bacaan lebih tinggi dengan Batu Pahat mencatatkan bacaan tertinggi negara iaitu 186, diikuti Kluang (169), Larkin (166), Segamat (165), Pasir Gudang (164) dan Tangkak (163).

Turut berada dalam kelompok 20 kawasan dengan bacaan IPU tertinggi ialah Nilai, Negeri Sembilan dengan bacaan 160, Seremban (156), Kota Tinggi, Johor (155), Pengerang (154) dan Bandaraya Melaka (153).

Selain itu, Rompin dan Balok Baru, Kuantan masing-masing merekodkan bacaan 152, manakala Indera Mahkota, Kuantan (124), Kemaman, Terengganu (121), Bukit Rambai, Melaka (103) dan Paka, Terengganu (103).

Perkembangan itu menunjukkan beberapa kawasan di Semenanjung kini berdepan kemerosotan kualiti udara, dengan sebahagian besar lokasi mencatatkan bacaan dalam kategori tidak sihat.

Orang ramai khususnya golongan berisiko dinasihatkan mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga dan mengehadkan aktiviti luar sekiranya keadaan kualiti udara bertambah buruk.

Sebarang perubahan bacaan IPU di kawasan masing-masing boleh dipantau menerusi sistem pemantauan kualiti udara JAS.-UTUSAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Sebanyak tujuh kawasan di seluruh negara mencatatkan bacaan Indeks Pencemar Udara (IPU) pada tahap tidak sihat setakat 10 pagi ini

Menurut portal Sistem Pengurusan Indeks Pencemar Udara Malaysia (APIMS), tiga kawasan di Johor merekodkan bacaan tertinggi dengan Larkin dan Pasir Gudang masing-masing mencatatkan 154, manakala Batu Pahat (153).

Turut merekodkan bacaan tidak sihat ialah Johan Setia di Selangor (153), Cheras di Kuala Lumpur (152), Putrajaya (152) serta Nilai di Negeri Sembilan (124).

Sementara itu, sebanyak 60 kawasan berada pada kategori sederhana manakala hanya satu kawasan merekodkan kualiti udara yang baik iaitu Langkawi, Kedah.

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