KUALA LUMPUR: A low pressure system over the Straits of Melaka at 5.4°N 98.3°W near the waters north of the peninsula is expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and choppy sea conditions to several states from Nov 23 to 25.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Datuk Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the system was almost static and expected to move northwest towards the Bengal Bay after 36 hours.

The department has issued warnings at Danger, Bad and Alert levels for continuous rain effective till Nov 25, while warnings for strong winds and choppy sea conditions in Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Pahang and Selangor will last till Nov 24.

MetMalaysia will also issue updates on advisories and warnings periodically depending on the latest situation. - Bernama

KULIM – Jumlah mangsa banjir di Kulim semakin meningkat apabila seramai 404 mangsa daripada 122 keluarga dipindahkan ke tiga pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) sehingga pukul 8 malam ini.

Menurut Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri Kedah, kesemua mangsa ditempatkan di PPS Masjid Al-Muhtadin Sungai Seluang, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Permatang Tok Dik dan Surau Keda Naga Lilit.

KUALA LUMPUR: Jumlah mangsa banjir membabitkan lima negeri terus meningkat kepada 8,895 orang yang membabitkan 3,162 keluarga.

Semua mangsa kini ditempatkan di 40 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) yang dibuka di semua negeri terbabit setakat jam 8 malam ini.

Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) berkata, Kelantan merekodkan jumlah mangsa banjir tertinggi iaitu 7,695 orang daripada 2,810 keluarga dengan 31 PPS dibuka di empat daerah.

Ia membabitkan Tumpat dengan 4,221 mangsa, diikuti Kota Bharu (1,941 mangsa) Bachok (1,416 mangsa) dan Pasir Puteh (117 mangsa).

TAIPEI, Nov 23 — Taipei resident Jay Tsai hopes he never needs the crisis guide Taiwan is handing out to millions of households across the island, which faces threats of natural disasters and a Chinese invasion.

The government began sliding the orange booklet under doors and into mailboxes this week to raise awareness about potential dangers, but critics have branded it a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“I hope we’ll never need it but it feels reassuring to have,” Tsai, a 31-year-old 3D animation specialist, told AFP.

“I’ll put it near my emergency items at home, like the flashlight, just so I know it’s there.”

The 32-page booklet offers advice on everything from how to prepare a “go bag” to what to do when an air-raid siren sounds and how to give first-aid.

It also warns readers that “hostile foreign forces” could use disinformation to weaken their resolve to defend the island if China attacks.

“In the event of a military invasion of Taiwan, any claim that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated is false,” it says.

The new printed version is the first time the government has opted for paper emergency guidelines for the public after previously publishing them online.

“A printed copy ensures that... the elderly in rural areas or anyone without access to digital tools can still obtain the information they need,” Defence Minister Wellington Koo told lawmakers on Wednesday.

‘Stay alert’ 

The guide, titled “In Case of Crisis”, is part of President Lai Ching-te’s efforts to prepare the island’s 23 million people for a disaster or conflict.

“I think it’s quite helpful,” Chi Chien-han, 43, a community leader, told AFP. “It reminds us to stay alert rather than acting like nothing matters.”

However, IT worker Yang Chen-che said the guide was more political than practical and he would probably “throw it away”.

“You can look up all of this online,” Yang, 38, told AFP. “I don’t need to keep a paper copy.”

Chiang Chu-hsuan, 60, another community leader, dismissed the guide as a “waste of money” and said Lai should try hard to “avoid war”.

The defence ministry said Taiwan had studied similar books recently published by countries such as Sweden and France when putting its guide together.

“I think this booklet actually shows our determination of defending ourselves,” said Lin Fei-fan, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.

Yeh Yuan-chih, a legislator with the main opposition Kuomintang party, which advocates for warmer ties with China, questioned the cost of printing and delivering the booklet.

“Is it necessary to spend more than NT$60 million (US$1.9 million or about RM7.94 million)?” Yeh asked Koo in parliament.

The government expects to finish distributing the guides to nearly 10 million households by early January.

“In the past, war didn’t feel that close to us,” said 32-year-old resident Ruru Liu.

“But after what happened in Ukraine I think this might help people to some extent.” — AFP