KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to hit several areas across the country until 6pm today.

Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya are expected to be affected while Seremban, Port Dickson and Rembau in Negri Sembilan would also be impacted, said the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

An alert has also been issued for Selangor, with the affected districts encompassing Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Klang, Gombak, Petaling, Kuala Langat, Hulu Langat and Sepang.

The department said inclement weather is also expected in Perak, namely the districts of Kerian, Larut, Matang and Selama, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang and Muallim.

Also up north, alerts have been issued for Penang, as well as Kulim and Bandar Baharu in Kedah. Down south, warnings have been sounded for Melaka and Johor.

In Sarawak, the afffected areas are Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei (Pakan, Sarikei and Julau), Sibu (Kanowit), Kapit (Song and Belaga), Bintulu, Miri and Limbang (Limbang).

Over in Sabah, Sipitang, Tenom, Beaufort, Keningau), Papar, Tawau and Tongod in Sandakan are also expected to face thunderstorms.

The department said warnings are issued when thunderstorms with rainfall intensity exceeding 20mm per hour are imminent or anticipated to last more than an hour.

MIRI (March 16): Firefighters were summoned Saturday to help put out a fire at a palm oil wastewater pond in Sibuti.

The Batu Niah fire station in a statement said its personnel were sent to a factory about 27km away where the pond was located following a call at 11.01am.

“Upon arrival, the team was told that factory workers had used 50 portable fire extinguishers to control the blaze.

“Using water from the factory’s fire hydrant, Bomba personnel commenced efforts to extinguish the flames,” it said.

It added the firefighting effort was aided by some 30 factory workers.

“A thorough inspection was conducted after the fire was put out to ensure no further risk,” added Bomba.

No report of injuries was received, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A recycling factory in Jalan Perindustrian Bukit Minyak was destroyed in a fire, but no casualties or injuries were reported.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director, Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said they received a distress call at 11.37am on Sunday (March 16), and firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene.

"The fire department carried out containment and extinguishing efforts by dividing the operation into four sectors before the fire was brought under control at 2.02pm," he said when contacted by Bernama on Sunday.

Mohamad Shoki said the fire's cause and the damage's extent are still under investigation. Over 100 officers and firefighters from the Paya Terubong, Sungai Bakap, Batu Kawan, and Bukit Mertajam fire stations, assisted by the Padang Lalang, Permatang Tinggi, Kota Permai, Taman Merak Jaya, and Juru Volunteer Fire Brigade teams, were involved in the firefighting operation.

He said that as of 7pm, the fire had been fully extinguished, but fire department operations are still ongoing at the factory as they need to ensure that no embers or flames remain in the area – Bernama.

MIRI (March 16): Victims of the landslide which occurred here end of January are urging the authority to expedite the disbursement of the RM1,000 immediate relief from the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).

According to Kampung Lereng Bukit village chief KK Othman Ahmad, so far, they had only received items like rice cooker, blankets and towels from NADMA.

“We hope the financial assistance can be expedited because many have to repair their house that was damaged by the landslide.

“We do not know where to follow up on this matter because there is no NADMA office in Miri here. We really hope that the relevant authority can look into this matter and expedite the assistance,” he said.

One of the affected villagers, Awang Mohidi Awang Alam, also expressed his frustration over the slow disbursement of the promised aid.

He said all the affected villagers had filled up the necessary forms from NADMA but had yet to receive any updates on the status of the aid.

“It’s very frustrating because we really need the assistance to repair our homes. They said the assistance from NADMA was for ‘immediate relief’ but it’s almost two months now and still no news,” lamented Awang Mohidi.

He added that some of the villagers had even gone to the Welfare Department to make enquiries but only to be told that the assistance is not under the department’s responsibility.

According to Awang Mohidi, 13 houses in the village were affected by the landslide, and all the affected families have applied for the assistance.

Othman also urged the authority concerned to clear a section of drainage in the area that is filled with earth following the landslide.

“It’s been more than a month now and the drain is still not cleared. This will block water from flowing out during rainy season. We hope the authority can take immediate action to resolve this problem.”

Othman and Awang Mohidi were met by reporters during a fast-breaking ceremony hosted for Kampung Lereng Bukit landslide victims by Miri Technical College Saturday night.

College manager Inna Jerman was among those present.