PONTIAN: Firemen in Pontian Baru are on high alert as the risk of floods in several coastal spots increases due to the king tide phenomenon.

The Pontian Baru Fire and Rescue Department said its team has been on the ground since Sunday (Dec 7) morning, checking key high-risk locations as part of preparedness measures. "Some of the hotspots we visited were Pontian Trade Centre, Pantai Rambah, Kukup Terminal and Tanjung Piai National Park.

Firemen also took the opportunity to advise residents and visitors to stay alert, be ready to move to safer ground if water levels keep rising or if heavy rain occurs, and to keep a close eye on their properties—especially electrical risks during high tide.

In Kukup and Tanjung Piai, firemen reminded visitors involved in water-related activities to take extra precautions due to the possibility of sudden tidal changes.

The department said it would continue periodic monitoring throughout the high-tide phenomenon to ensure the safety of the community and tourists. Monitoring efforts ran from about 11am to 2pm using three assets, with 11 personnel deployed.

The National Hydrographic Centre of the Royal Malaysian Navy forecasted the king tide phenomenon from Dec 4 to 7, warning on its website that seawater could overflow into inland areas and raise the risk of flooding in low-lying and coastal regions. Flooding could be worsened as MetMalaysia has warned of thunderstorms in several areas during this period.