KAPIT (Oct 13): Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi has called for greater emphasis on fire preparedness and preventive measures following the recent blaze that razed Rumah Austin Ekau, a 29-door longhouse in Nanga Sipan, Song, leaving 81 residents homeless.

Chairing a coordination meeting at the site yesterday, Nanta said the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sept 28, should serve as a wake-up call for all quarters to step up disaster readiness, particularly in rural areas where access to emergency response is often limited.

“This incident is deeply saddening and should serve as an important lesson for all of us. There is a pressing need to improve disaster preparedness, especially in terms of firefighting equipment, which is still not at a satisfactory level,” he said in a statement.

Nanta urged the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) and other safety agencies to conduct regular inspections and report any shortcomings to ensure timely improvements in firefighting capacity at longhouses and remote settlements.

During the meeting, Nanta also discussed post-fire recovery efforts, including the proposal to rebuild the longhouse on its original site, pending resolution of land ownership and site clearance issues.

For now, he said residents are building temporary shelters (dampa) with RM10,000 in assistance from the Welfare Department (JKM).

He added the government has also allocated RM70,000 per door for the construction of new permanent homes.

“As a gesture of concern, Katibas assemblyman YB Lidam Assan and I are also contributing RM1,000 per door to help ease the burden of the affected families,” he said.

To further support reconstruction, Nanta announced an additional RM10,000 per door contribution—totalling RM290,000—with RM145,000 to be disbursed soon for the construction of temporary shelters.

“Hopefully these initiatives restore the spirit and livelihood of the affected families and remind us all of the importance of preparedness in facing disasters,” he said.

KOTA BHARU, Oct 13 — Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said that the proposed construction of a security wall along Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang is no longer an option but a strategic necessity to curb smuggling activities, mitigate flood risks, and safeguard the country’s sovereignty along the Kelantan-Thailand border.

He said the narrow and shallow geographical features of Sungai Golok make it difficult to maintain effective security control through conventional means - even with the assistance of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, or closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance.

“Sungai Golok is very narrow. Even with advanced technology, maintaining control remains difficult as it only takes minutes for someone to cross over to Thailand.

“That is why I would like to propose to the government to expedite the construction of a security wall or fence along the river buffer zone,” he told Bernama at the state contingent police headquarters recently.

He said the proposal would not only strengthen border control but could also serve a dual purpose - functioning as both a security barrier and a flood mitigation structure to prevent the frequent overflow of river water affecting the border areas.

He added that of the 163-kilometre Kelantan-Thailand border, about 91 kilometres consists of river boundaries, while the remainder is on land. Therefore, the installation of a security wall or fence could be implemented according to the suitability of each area.

He noted that the border terrain in Kelantan is far more challenging compared to other border states such as Perlis or Kedah, as the distance between the two countries in certain areas, particularly in Tanah Merah and Jeli, is only a few metres apart.

“As Sungai Golok is narrow and shallow, it provides easy access for livestock and contraband smuggling. The proposal to build a security wall has been discussed for some time, and I hope it can be implemented soon as it remains the most effective solution,” he said.

He also stressed that surveillance through drones, cameras and automated monitoring systems alone is insufficient, as these technologies still require continuous human supervision.

Technological tools such as drones and CCTV have limitations, as drones still require human operation while CCTV only records incidents without immediate response, he added.

Based on his year-long observation in Kelantan, he said the construction of a security wall remains the most comprehensive solution to curb border smuggling, noting that developed countries such as the United States and Mexico have adopted similar measures for more effective border control.

During the monsoon season, smugglers find it easier to cross the border as rising waters from Sungai Golok often submerge the boundary line, allowing them to enter Malaysian territory by boat - sometimes reaching as far as Pasir Mas and Meranti.

“When the river overflows, the border line disappears, and smugglers from Thailand take advantage of the situation.

He added that flood conditions also complicate police operations, as some border control posts and stations become inundated, limiting patrols to boat operations. However, these efforts are further constrained as personnel are also required to assist flood victims.

During the dry season, the low water level in Sungai Golok allows smugglers to easily cross the border on foot within minutes.

He said the proposed security wall would enhance safety for police and other enforcement agencies, including the General Operations Force, particularly during floods when patrols by boat are limited.

“This is not just about security but also about safeguarding national sovereignty. The wall is a long-term investment for the future,” he said.

In November last year, Bernama reported that the Thai government had welcomed the Kelantan government’s proposal to the federal government for the construction of a security and flood control wall along the Sungai Golok-Rantau Panjang border.

Narathiwat Governor Trakul Thotham was reported as saying that such a structure would be an important step in tackling cross-border crime. — Bernama

KOTA BHARU: Pembinaan empangan mampu mengatasi masalah banjir yang sering melanda kawasan tanaman padi bawah seliaan Lembaga Kemajuan Pertanian Kemubu (KADA).

Pengerusi KADA, Khalid Abdul Samad berkata, perkara tersebut sudah dimasukan dalam Rancangan Malaysia Ke-13 (RMK13) bersama kerja-kerja menaik taraf infrastruktur pengurusan air yang lebih menyeluruh di kawasan berkenaan.

“Pembinaan empangan ini sangat diperlukan kerana mampu menampung jumlah air berlebihan pada musim tengkujuh. Bagaimanapun, perkara ini berada di bawah tanggungjawab Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS). 

“KADA sedang memperkukuh persiapan bagi menghadapi musim banjir yang dijangka berlaku hujung tahun ini, termasuk meningkatkan keupayaan sistem pengurusan air di kawasan sawah dan takungan utama,” katanya selepas Sambutan Hari Sukan Negara peringkat KADA di Pusat Latihan Pertanian KADA di Melor, di sini hari ini. – UTUSAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Pelaburan dalam ketahanan dan kesiapsiagaan lebih memberi pulangan jangka panjang berbanding tindakan reaktif selepas berlakunya sesuatu bencana, kata Pengerusi Kumpulan Rentas Parti Parlimen Malaysia-Pengurusan Risiko Bencana (APPGM-DRM), Zahir Hassan.

Menyambut baik pembentangan Belanjawan 2026 pada Jumaat lepas, beliau berkata pihaknya menghargai usaha kerajaan dalam menyediakan peruntukan itu dengan mengambil kira perkara sedemikian termasuk RM2.2 bilion bagi 55 projek Rancangan Tebatan Banjir (RTB).

"Langkah ini menunjukkan pendekatan proaktif untuk melindungi nyawa, mata pencarian dan kestabilan ekonomi jangka panjang," katanya dalam sidang media di Parlimen di sini, hari ini.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ketika membentangkan Belanjawan 2026, turut mengumumkan peruntukan RM460 juta untuk Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara dan RM210 juta kepada Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia bagi membangunkan Sistem Amaran Awal.

Zahir, yang juga Ahli Parlimen Wangsa Maju, berkata APPGM-DRM bersama dengan Pusat Pencegahan dan Kesiapsiagaan Bencana memberi komitmen untuk terus memainkan peranan sebagai jambatan antara pembuat dasar, institusi pendidikan dan masyarakat dalam memperkukuh agenda daya tahan negara.

"Sempena Hari Antarabangsa Pengurangan Risiko Bencana, kami sekali lagi menyeru semua pihak untuk membiayai daya tahan, bukan bencana - memastikan setiap pelaburan hari ini memperkukuh keselamatan, kelestarian dan kemakmuran negara," katanya.

Zahir juga berkata dengan kos bencana global dianggarkan hampir AS$2.3 trilion, Hari Antarabangsa Pengurangan Risiko Bencana yang disambut setiap 13 Okt mengingatkan bahawa setiap ringgit yang dilaburkan dalam pengurangan risiko dapat mengelakkan kerugian jauh lebih besar.

– BERNAMA