NARATHIWAT, Selatan Thailand: Seramai 23 individu termasuk tujuh anggota polis cedera dalam satu insiden letupan bom berhampiran sebuah pasar raya di daerah Bannang Sata, Wilayah Yala, malam tadi.

Ketua Polis Bannang Sata, Kol Pol Ranon Surawit, berkata kejadian berlaku pada 8.20 malam waktu tempatan dan dipercayai dilakukan oleh kumpulan bersenjata yang sedang dijejaki pihak berkuasa.

"Ketika kejadian, beberapa anggota polis sedang melakukan rondaan dengan menaiki dua kenderaan pacuan empat roda.

"Apabila kenderaan polis tiba di pasar raya itu, sebutir bom yang disembunyikan dikawasan berhampiran dan dipercayai diaktifkan menggunakan alat kawalan jauh meletup secara tiba-tiba," katanya kepada media selepas melawat lokasi kejadian di sini.

Surawit berkata semua mangsa yang terdiri daripada tujuh anggota polis dan 16 orang awam telah dibawa ke Hospital Bannang Sata untuk mendapatkan rawatan, dan siasatan polis sedang giat dijalankan.

Insiden letupan itu berlaku sehari sebelum lawatan kerja bekas Perdana Menteri Thailand, Thaksin Shinawatra, ke wilayah selatan Thailand dalam usaha mencari penyelesaian kepada konflik yang telah berlarutan sekian lama.

Lawatan itu merupakan kunjungan pertama Thaksin ke wilayah berkenaan sejak dilantik sebagai penasihat tidak rasmi Pengerusi ASEAN, serta lawatan pertamanya ke kawasan itu selepas lebih 20 tahun sejak pentadbirannya dijatuhkan pada 2006.

– BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: Ribut petir, hujan lebat dan angin kencang diramal membadai ibu kota dan Putrajaya selain Selangor, Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor dan Sarawak sehingga jam 2 pagi esok.

Selain seluruh Selangor, Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (METMalaysia) dalam hantaran di Facebook sebentar tadi memaklumkan, di Perak, cuaca itu diramal melanda Manjung, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Bagan Datuk, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang dan Muallim.

Di Pahang katanya, cuaca itu dijangka di Bentong manakala Negeri Sembilan membabitkan Jelebu, Seremban dan Port Dickson.

"Selain Mersing di Johor, kawasan Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit (Song dan Kapit) dan Bintulu di Sarawak turut diramal terjejas akibat cuaca sama," menurut METMalaysia.

METMalaysia berkata, amaran dikeluarkan apabila terdapat tanda-tanda menunjukkan ribut petir dengan intensiti hujan melebihi 20 milimeter per jam yang hampir atau dijangka berlaku melebihi sejam.

"Amaran ribut petir adalah amaran jangka pendek yang sah dalam tempoh tidak melebihi enam jam untuk satu-satu keluaran," katanya.

MIRI (Feb 24): The moral uplifting societies have demonstrated unity and strong kinship at times of disaster, as shown by the assistance rendered to the flood victims in Miri and Bekenu.

According to Miri Che Lee Khor Moral Uplifting Society chairman Tony Pui, his chapter had last week distributed financial aid and essential supplies to 50 families who took shelter at the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) Miri Chapter premises and also the Sports Village.

“The flood and landslide situation in Miri was unprecedentedly severe, forcing many victims to seek refuge at the relief centres after their houses were destroyed. Our assistance was just a small part in helping them get through the difficult time and alleviate their burden.

“Thus, upon receiving the support from individuals and local businesses, we’re in gratitude and overwhelmed by their participation,” he said in his welcoming remarks at the Miri Che Lee Khor’s Appreciation cum Chinese New Year Dinner here Saturday.

Adding on, Pui said renowned rice distributor Tong Seng Huat generously donated 200 bags of rice to the flood victims in Batu Niah, whereas the United Moral Uplifting Society Malaysia and Confederation of Moral Uplifting Societies of East Malaysia and Labuan were very responsive to the request for disaster relief assistance, where the president of both organisations promptly approved funds amounting to RM10,000 and RM5,000, respectively, meant for the cause.

“They even mobilised their members across the region to contribute, both financially and physically, towards Sarawak’s flood relief efforts.

“It truly demonstrated the unity when one region is in distress, support pours in from all directions,” he said, adding that these funds would be fully managed by Miri Che Lee Khor and distributed to the disaster victims accordingly.

Earlier, Pui revealed that Miri Che Lee Khor and the staff members of Dynasty Hotel had visited two flood-hit villages in Batu Niah to distribute RM200 in aid and essential supplies to each of the 100 affected families.

In this regard, he expressed hope that more organisation and individuals would come forward and extend their support, emphasising that recovery efforts would take time and sustained commitment.

In his speech, guest-of-honour Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting said he was touched by Miri Che Lee Khor’s dedication in helping people, and at the same time, educating the society about the moral values meant to build good characters and instil in people positive behaviours.

He later pledged an allocation of RM5,000 for Miri Che Lee Khor.

A former minister has urged the government to overhaul the department of drainage and irrigation (DID) to prepare it for the bigger responsibility of facing climate change.

Former environment and water minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the risk of natural disasters brought about by climate change meant that DID’s role was no longer limited to minor duties such as monitoring agricultural irrigation systems.

Tuan Ibrahim, who was minister from 2020 to 2022, suggested that the agency be given a greater number of staff as well as a larger allocation to carry out projects to mitigate climate change.

“It’s time for the job functions and role of DID to be reevaluated and overhauled. First, it needs to be allocated more funds because of its wide job scope, which includes protecting our sources of water.

“It also needs more staff and more centres for monitoring (possible floods),” the PAS deputy president said in an interview with FMT.

Tuan Ibrahim suggested that Putrajaya tap groundwater sources and build more water catchment areas at riverbanks to prepare for hot spells.

He said the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia had forecast severe prolonged droughts in Peninsular Malaysia from 2025 to 2035.

He also said Malaysia was currently utilising only about 3% of its groundwater, while other nations were tapping between 40% and 45% of their underground water sources.

“If a drought hits, dries up our rivers and puts our dams at risk, we have an alternative in groundwater,” he said.

Tuan Ibrahim, the Kubang Kerian MP, also urged the government to expedite flood mitigation projects in Kelantan, whose residents are affected by floods almost annually during the year-end monsoon season.

Several flood mitigation projects costing RM15 billion were retendered by Putrajaya in 2023 to save “significant funds”. Last December, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said these projects were proceeding as planned.

Tuan Ibrahim disputed this, saying the rise in cost of building materials as well as the targeted diesel subsidies may have contributed to a spike in the overall cost of the projects.

Kelantan and Terengganu were battered by several rounds of floods at the end of last year, with more than 150,000 people forced to flee their homes and various infrastructure damaged as a result.