KUCHING (Jan 16): Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), through its social impact arm Yayasan Petronas, has distributed 8,750 care packages nationwide, with 1,150 being allocated to Sarawak.

The care packages contain essential daily and personal hygiene items such as towels, blankets, mineral water, cutlery, sanitary pads, diapers, wet wipes, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

“The items were handed over to the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) last November and stored at designated JKM depot centres across the state,” said Petronas in a statement.

It added that JKMS will distribute the care packages to the respective temporary evacuation centres (PPS) when needed.

As of January 12, 950 packages had been distributed to various PPS across Miri, Bintulu, Mukah, and Samarahan divisions, said the national oil company.

Petronas Sarawak general manager, Norazibah M Rabu, said they remain committed to supporting the Sarawak government to ease the burden faced by flood-affected communities.

“Through our coordination with JKMS, we hope the care packages can offer a measure of comfort and reassurance to those impacted.

“With the possibility of a second wave of flooding due to the king tide, as cautioned by the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee, we urge the public to remain vigilant.

“In times of crisis, we stand together with the people of Sarawak, ready to respond whenever and wherever support is needed,” she added.

BINTULU (Jan 13): The flood situation in the Bintulu Division has primarily affected the Sebauh District, with several areas along major river systems experiencing more severe inundation than Bintulu town, said Bintulu Resident Datu Nyurak Keti.

He said areas along the Sebauh River, including Sungai Sebauh, Pandan and Tubau, were among the worst-hit in the current flood episode.

According to him, ongoing operations are focused on delivering food supplies to affected communities, particularly in the upper reaches of Sungai Sebauh, Sungai Pandan and Tubau, despite the unfavourable weather conditions.

“Given that the weather conditions remain unfavourable today (Monday), I would like to remind all residents in the Bintulu Division, particularly community leaders and longhouse heads, to stay alert. If the flood situation becomes critical, evacuation is necessary.

“In such situations, residents should evacuate and immediately contact our operations rooms at the Sebauh District Office and the Bintulu District Office, both of which operate on a 24-hour basis,” he told reporters during an inspection at the affected areas in Sebauh on Monday.

The visit was led by Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

Nyurak said arrangements were made to distribute 1,500 packs of ready-to-eat food to longhouses on Monday.

He said additional food supplies will be delivered today (Tuesday) using boats and lorries to predetermined locations.

Nyurak, who is the chairman of the Bintulu Divisional Disaster Management Committee, also reminded residents to prioritise safety at all times, including wearing life jackets when travelling by boat during flood conditions.

“All relevant agencies are working together at the operations rooms to coordinate response efforts, and the public are advised to rely only on official channels for accurate and verified information related to the flood situation,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat insurans am berkemungkinan mengetatkan syarat pengunderaitan atau menarik diri daripada kawasan berisiko tinggi sekiranya kerugian akibat bencana alam terus meningkat secara mendadak, menurut MBSB Research.

Firma penyelidikan itu dalam laporan sektor terbaharunya memaklumkan perubahan iklim yang semakin ketara telah mencetuskan peningkatan mendadak kerosakan harta benda di peringkat global sejak lima tahun kebelakangan ini, dengan Malaysia turut tidak terkecuali daripada trend berkenaan.

Di peringkat domestik, kesan perubahan iklim paling ketara dapat dilihat melalui kejadian banjir yang semakin kerap dan teruk. Namun, bayaran tuntutan oleh syarikat insurans masih terhad, menyebabkan sebahagian besar impak kewangan terus ditanggung oleh kerajaan Persekutuan.

Menurut MBSB Research, sekiranya kerugian bencana terus meningkat secara dramatik, syarikat insurans swasta mungkin terpaksa mengambil langkah melindungi kedudukan kewangan mereka, termasuk mengetatkan piawaian pengunderaitan dan menilai semula pendedahan risiko di kawasan tertentu. Keadaan itu juga berpotensi mendorong kenaikan harga premium serta terma perlindungan yang lebih ketat bagi mengimbangi risiko tambahan.

Penganalisis MBSB Research, Samuel Woo, berkata syarikat insurans dijangka memindahkan kos risiko yang meningkat kepada pelanggan bagi menampung pendedahan kewangan yang lebih tinggi. "Untuk mengimbangi risiko tambahan, syarikat insurans akan memindahkan kos ini kepada pelanggan. Langkah ini berpotensi mengasingkan sebahagian pangkalan pelanggan, khususnya golongan berpendapatan rendah yang lebih cenderung tinggal di kawasan berisiko banjir," katanya.

MBSB Research turut memaklumkan bahawa di peringkat global, syarikat insurans sudah mula menarik diri daripada zon berisiko tinggi bagi melindungi kedudukan kewangan mereka daripada kerugian bencana yang berterusan, dan corak yang sama berkemungkinan berlaku di Malaysia. Jika situasi itu berlaku, penawaran perlindungan mampu milik di kawasan paling terdedah dijangka semakin terhad.

KOTA SAMARAHAN, 13 Jan: Ketua Polis Daerah Kota Samarahan, Superintendan Damataries Lautin telah melaksanakan beberapa siri lawatan ke Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) susulan kejadian banjir yang melanda daerah berkenaan awal bulan ini.

PPS pertama dibuka pada 1 Januari 2026 di Dewan Suarah Kota Samarahan bagi menempatkan mangsa banjir dari kawasan Plaie dan Jegoi, beliau turut hadir meninjau keadaan dan kebajikan mangsa pada 2 Januari.

Lawatan beliau diteruskan pada 3 Januari sempena kunjungan Timbalan Premier Sarawak, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas ke PPS tersebut sebelum ia ditutup selepas keadaan kembali pulih.

Namun, gelombang banjir kedua melanda pada 9 Januari 2026, menyebabkan PPS SK Endap dibuka semula. Lawatan ke PPS itu turut disertai Ahli Parlimen Kota Samarahan, Rubiah Wang, dan Damataries sendiri bagi memastikan aspek keselamatan dan kelancaran operasi PPS.

Pada malam yang sama, Damataries turut bersetuju untuk membuka PPS keempat di Balai Raya Kampung Nangka dan melawat lokasi berkenaan.

Kesemua PPS ditutup sepenuhnya pada 11 Januari 2026 setelah banjir surut dan keadaan kembali terkawal.

PD Kota Samarahan menegaskan komitmen berterusan dalam memastikan keselamatan, ketenteraman dan kebajikan penduduk terjamin sepanjang pengurusan bencana.-TVS