JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims in Johor has significantly decreased, with fewer families seeking shelter at temporary relief centres, according to the state Disaster Management Committee.

As of 10am today, the number of affected residents has dropped from 1,853 to 1,221, while the number of displaced families fell from 504 to 355.

The number of active shelters has also dipped from 20 to 16.

Batu Pahat remains the worst-hit district, with 624 victims from 194 families still housed at five centres.

This is followed by Pontian with 406 evacuees from 110 families in six centres.

Kota Tinggi, Kluang, and Johor Baru recorded lower figures, with a combined total of 191 people still in shelters.

Despite the challenging weather, Johor has reported zero fatalities from the floods.

The authorities continue to monitor the situation, urging residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant.

For emergency assistance, the Johor Disaster Operations Control Centre can be reached at 07-2322484/5 or via WhatsApp at 019-2127215.

JOHOR BARU: All temporary relief centres in Kluang and Johor Baru have been closed after flood victims were allowed to return home.

The Johor disaster management committee said that as of noon on Tuesday (March 25), only three districts remain affected by floods.

“The highest number of evacuees is in Batu Pahat (619 people), followed by Pontian (325) and Kota Tinggi (65),” it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the monitoring stations at Sungai Senggarang in Batu Pahat and Sungai Ayer Hitam in Pontian recorded warning levels.

JOHOR BAHRU – Seorang peniaga kedai makan di Jalan Ulam Raja 1, Kampung Maju Jaya di sini mencari peti ais, meja makan, kerusi dan barang-barang yang dihanyutkan banjir sejauh kira-kira satu kilometer dari tempatnya berniaga selepas bah surut.

Norhayati Ismail, 47, yang menjual nasi ayam dan masakan panas bersebelahan Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Maju Jaya berkata, peralatan dan barang-barang dalam kedainya tidak dapat diselamatkan kerana pintu kedai roller shutter bahagian depan sudah rosak.

“Ini membuatkan banyak barang dalam kedai termasuk peti ais dan kerusi terapung dan dihanyutkan banjir walaupun ada barang-barang yang sudah diletakkan di tempat yang tinggi.

“Saya mencari peti ais dan barang dalam kedai sehingga ke kawasan lampu isyarat iaitu kira-kira satu kilometer dari kedai tetapi tidak menemui apa-apa.

Dia yang sudah tujuh tahun berniaga di jalan berkenaan berkata, banjir kali ini adalah paling teruk dan naik sehingga paras bumbung di rumah-rumah dalam kampung tersebut selepas hujan lebih 24 jam.

“Hujan lebat 9 pagi Rabu lalu mengakibatkan air mula naik paras buku lali dan pukul 11 pagi air sudah naik sehingga paha kemudian pada pukul 1 petang sudah sampai paras dada.

“Keadaan ini membuatkan mangsa banjir di kampung ini keluar rumah dalam keadaan sehelai sepinggang. Banjir kali ini di luar kangkaan,” ujar ibu kepada tiga anak itu yang masih trauma dengan kejadian banjir.

Dia berharap, kerajaan dapat memberi bantuan kepada peniaga dan penduduk kampung berkenaan untuk membina semula kehidupan yang sudah musnah akibat banjir.

Katanya, banjir tersebut menjejaskan sumber pendapatan peniaga yang mencari rezeki di kiri dan kanan jalan itu termasuk mereka yang berniaga di bazar Ramadan berhampiran.

Banjir pada minggu lalu itu mengakibatkan kira-kira 80 peratus daripada lebih 3,000 penduduk  terjejas termasuk Sekolah Kebangsan (SK) Kampung Maju Jaya dan Sekolah Agama (SA) Kampung Maju Jaya tidak beroperasi.

Keadaan itu juga menyebabkan jambatan masuk ke kampung berkenaan ditenggelami air dan penduduk terpaksa dipindahkan ke pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) melalui laluan Sungai Tebrau.- MalaysiaGazette

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has seized various types of fireworks worth over RM106 million during the first quarter of the year, involving 60 cases and 68 arrests.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that as of March 23, the largest seizure worth RM48,522,220 was recorded at duty-free zones and areas under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order 2023, involving five cases.

“This was followed by the General Operations Force (RM31,748,936 from 32 cases), Marine Police Force (RM24,665,846 from 20 cases), and Federal Reserve Unit (RM1,146,879 from three cases),” he said.

Among the smuggled fireworks were “Happy Boom Cake”, “Happy Boom Cracker 8-inch”, “Happy Boom Assorted Celebration Red Fire Cracker”, “Happy Boom Assorted Celebration Red Fire Cracker Repeater”, and “Happy Boom Shoot Cake”, he added.

Razarudin said syndicates employ numerous tactics to evade detection by authorities, such as using illegal border crossings between Thailand and Malaysia, particularly in Padang Besar and Bukit Kayu Hitam, and concealing the fireworks among other goods in cargo trucks and express buses.

He added that some syndicates smuggled the contraband using small boats or cargo ships, concealing them inside shipping containers alongside imported goods.

“Information suggests that fireworks are brought in by sea using container ships and arrive at official ports in Sarawak. These containers come with legitimate customs documents listing approved fireworks for sale, but they also contain prohibited ones,” he said.

He explained that fireworks are also smuggled through ports and transported by truck to the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia in large quantities to meet demand.

He noted that some licensed sellers, who obtain permits from district police chiefs for storage and sales, sell banned fireworks alongside the legal types. — Bernama