PORTAL RASMI
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
KOTA KINABALU: The government has taken proactive steps to address the flood problem by allocating RM22 billion to implement the Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) projects nationwide, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid who is also the chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, said the allocation includes RTB upgrading works that have been and are being identified, especially in areas frequently hit by floods in the country.
“For example, the areas around Kota Kinabalu and Penampang are hit by floods up to four times a year and the RTB project in phases has been implemented and there are projects for the next phase that have been listed so that the flood problem can be resolved,“ he told reporters after visiting the Kota Kinabalu Lido flood RTB project areas here today.
Also present was Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Datuk Ewon Benedick, who is also the Member of Parliament for Penampang.
Ahmad Zahid said an additional allocation of about RM800 million would also be included in the 13th Malaysia Plan to overcome floods in the Penampang and Putatan areas.
He said a total of 14 RTB projects would be implemented in Sabah, namely two flood mitigation projects had been completed and were in the defect liability period, 10 projects were under construction, and two projects were in the pre-implementation phase.
“Meanwhile, in Sarawak, 10 flood mitigation projects had been planned and two of them had been completed and were still in the defect liability period. Two projects were under construction and six projects were in the pre-implementation phase,” he added.
Asked about the problem of RTB project delays, Ahmad Zahid said it was not caused by the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) or the contractor, but rather involved problems including the transfer of utilities and land acquisition.
He said close cooperation between the federal and Sabah governments also played an important role in efforts to launch the implementation of RTB projects in the state, as well as efforts to help the people affected by the disaster.
Meanwhile, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the federal government are very satisfied with the preparedness and management of disasters that occurred across the country recently.
“The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and all agencies involved, especially the flood committees at the state or district level,” he said.
ARAU: Traders at the Perlis East Wind Festival 2025 in Kampung Lat 1000, Tambun Tulang, are counting their losses after heavy rain turned the festival grounds into a muddy disaster.
Many vendors were forced to shut down, with some incurring losses of up to RM8,000 as their stalls became inaccessible due to waterlogged conditions.
A visit to the site today found traders packing up their goods, with the once-busy festival grounds resembling the aftermath of a mudslide.
"The padi field-turned-marketplace was completely waterlogged, making it difficult for both vendors and visitors to move around.
More than 20 vehicles, including food trucks, were stuck in deep mud and had to be towed out with the help of padi ploughing machines.
Bihun sup vendor Roslan Ahmad, 44, said the disaster could have been prevented if the organisers had heeded traders' concerns. "I'm not blaming the rain but the poor organisation.
"Who would want to come to a festival when the entire place is covered in mud?
"I've already lost between RM7,000 and RM8,000 just on raw ingredients, and now I have nowhere to sell them.
"The organisers have offered an alternative site at the Perlis State Assembly Complex in Kangar, but that's only for food trucks, not vendors like me," he said.
Roslan questioned why the same padi field location was chosen for a second consecutive year despite concerns raised earlier.
"We had already asked why they insisted on using this site when there were other dry fields available, but the organisers went ahead anyway. "We had no choice but to comply," he said.
He said vendors had paid over RM1,000 each to trade at the festival for three days.
"As of now, we're unsure if we'll continue. Our priority is to pack up and leave because, realistically, we've already lost about 95 per cent of our investment here," he said.
Food truck operator Muhd Afiq Omar, 25, barely made RM30 before he was forced to shut down.
"It rained heavily for about 30 minutes, and that was enough to flood the site. My truck got stuck in the mud, and I couldn't move it.
"I've been trading at this festival in Perlis for four years, but this is the first time something like this has happened.
"I had just set up my stall yesterday, but by nightfall, the entire place was flooded," he said.
Afiq said he had to leave his truck overnight and only managed to have it towed out this morning with the help of a padi ploughing machine.
Yesterday, Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli confirmed that the festival would proceed as planned despite venue adjustments due to the flooding.
Disaster response fund established by Botswana's private sector to support crisis recovery
- Admin UKK
- Berita
GABORONE, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Private Sector Disaster Response Fund (PSDRF) was launched on Friday by Business Botswana as a private sector-led initiative to provide rapid disaster response and immediate recovery support in times of crisis.
The fund aims to address critical gaps in disaster management by providing agile financial assistance, according to Business Botswana, a business chamber organization in the southern African country.
"This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between the private sector and government to ensure that our communities can recover as quickly as possible in the face of disasters," said Neo Nwako, president of Business Botswana.
"By addressing the immediate financial needs in disaster recovery, the PSDRF will contribute to the quicker restoration of services, livelihoods, and businesses," Nwako noted, citing that the PSDRF is part of the business community's commitment to building a resilient and proactive economy.
He said the PSDRF is specifically structured to fill vital financial voids, ensuring that businesses and communities can respond promptly to natural disasters and other unforeseen emergencies.
In addition, the fund will undertake proactive measures, particularly in improving early warning systems and empowering local communities to better handle emergencies, according to Business Botswana.
The launch of the PSDRF comes as Botswana is facing ongoing heavy rainfalls, resulting in floods.
Botswanan President Duma Boko lamented the severe impact of the devastating floods, which have damaged homes and disrupted lives and livelihoods.
"I met with some affected families, emergency responders, and local leaders to discuss immediate relief efforts and long-term solutions. We will also strengthen disaster preparedness to prevent such tragedies in the future," said Boko. .
Kebakaran hutan Phuket terkawal, kebimbangan kualiti udara berterusan di seluruh negara
- Admin UKK
- Berita
BANGKOK, 21 Feb: Jabatan Pencegahan dan Pengurangan Bencana (DDPM) Thailand mendedahkan kebakaran hutan yang tercetus di Laem Krating, Phuket, malam tadi berjaya dipadamkan sepenuhnya, namun kejadian itu menjejaskan kualiti udara di Thailand.
Penasihat DDPM Jirayu Huangtrakul berkata kebakaran yang berlaku pada 8 malam Khamis itu meliputi kawasan kira-kira 1.6 hektar dan tindakan pantas pasukan negeri memastikan api dapat dikawal sepenuhnya pagi ini.
Beliau turut menggesa pihak bomba semua kawasan agar terus berwaspada dan mengambil tindakan segera bagi mengawal sebarang kebakaran baharu yang mungkin berlaku.
“Jabatan Kawalan Pencemaran melaporkan kualiti udara di beberapa kawasan terus merosot setakat 7 pagi ini. Bangkok, kawasan sekitarnya serta sebahagian wilayah tengah termasuk Singburi dan Ang Thong mencatatkan paras habuk dalam zon jingga, menunjukkan kualiti udara tidak sihat.
Situasi ini selaras dengan ramalan yang menjangkakan keadaan bertambah buruk dari 21 hingga 23 Februari sebelum dijangka bertambah baik mulai 24 Februari,” katanya dalam kenyataan yang disiarkan di laman sesawang rasmi Kerajaan Thailand pada Jumaat.
Bagaimanapun, Jirayu berkata kualiti udara di wilayah utara menunjukkan tanda-tanda penambahbaikan dengan tiada kawasan berada dalam zon merah. Namun, beberapa wilayah seperti Lampang, Phitsanulok, Nan, Chiang Rai dan Tak masih berada dalam zon jingga.
“Situasi ini perlu dipantau dengan teliti di Bangkok dan kawasan sekitarnya. Paras habuk dijangka meningkat semula hujung minggu ini, tetapi angin timur laut yang diramal bertiup pada Isnin, 24 Februari, dijangka membawa kelegaan ketara. Bagaimanapun, peningkatan semula paras habuk boleh berlaku sekitar 27 hingga 28 Februari,” katanya.
Sementara itu, katanya Jabatan Meteorologi melaporkan tahap kelembapan yang berbeza di Wilayah Utara, Tengah dan Timur dengan hujan berselerak di bahagian bawah Utara serta beberapa kawasan di Selatan.
Jirayu menyatakan hujan yang turun hanya memberi sedikit kesan dalam mengurangkan paras habuk. Jabatan itu turut mengeluarkan amaran cuaca mengenai keadaan tidak stabil di bahagian atas Thailand, hujan lebat di Selatan serta angin kencang di Teluk Thailand.
“Ribut petir dijangka berlaku antara 23 hingga 25 Februari dengan hujan lebat diramalkan di Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani dan Nakhon Si Thammarat,” katanya.
Beliau menambah bahawa pihak berkuasa menggesa orang ramai supaya mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga terhadap keadaan cuaca serta kualiti udara yang terus berubah. – TVS
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Feb: Suruhanjaya Ekonomi dan Sosial Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu bagi Asia dan Pasifik (ESCAP) menggesa ASEAN menggunakan pendekatan yang lebih bersepadu dalam menangani perubahan iklim, memberi amaran bahawa bencana berkaitan iklim yang semakin buruk boleh mengancam kestabilan ekonomi dan sosial di rantau ini.
Bercakap dalam temu bual bersama Bernama di sini, Setiausaha Agung Rendah Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) merangkap Setiausaha Eksekutif ESCAP, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana berkata kekerapan dan intensiti bencana alam seperti banjir, kemarau dan suhu melampau semakin meningkat akibat perubahan iklim.
“Kita sedang menyaksikan satu trend yang membimbangkan—bencana iklim semakin kerap dan semakin teruk, sekali gus memburukkan lagi kerentanan ekonomi. Ini bukan lagi sekadar isu alam sekitar; ia telah menjadi krisis ekonomi dan kemanusiaan,” katanya.
Alisjahbana berada di Malaysia bagi lawatan kerja selama dua hari bermula 17 Feb 2025, dan beliau mengadakan pertemuan bersama Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan Nga Kor Ming serta Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Makro) Kementerian Ekonomi, Datuk V Valluvan.
Mengulas lanjut, beliau menegaskan bahawa negara-negara ASEAN perlu memperhebat usaha mitigasi dan adaptasi iklim, terutamanya dalam mengurangkan pelepasan karbon serta memperkukuh daya tahan terhadap bencana.
“Perkara ini tidak boleh dilakukan secara berasingan. ASEAN mesti bertindak secara kolektif untuk membina masa depan yang berdaya tahan terhadap iklim dengan mengintegrasikan tindakan iklim ke dalam perancangan ekonomi, perdagangan dan pembangunan infrastruktur,” katanya.
Beliau turut menjelaskan bahawa ESCAP kini bekerjasama rapat dengan negara-negara ASEAN dalam mempromosikan dasar yang menyepadukan pertimbangan iklim ke dalam strategi pembangunan serantau.
Alisjahbana turut menekankan peranan Malaysia dalam mempelopori tenaga boleh diperbaharui, khususnya menerusi Grid Kuasa ASEAN.
“Peranan Malaysia dalam mempromosikan tenaga boleh diperbaharui dalam ASEAN sangat dipuji. Pengembangan Grid Kuasa ASEAN akan membantu mempercepatkan penggunaan tenaga boleh diperbaharui dan mengurangkan kebergantungan kepada bahan api fosil,” katanya.
Beliau juga menyeru tindakan kolektif ASEAN dalam kesiapsiagaan bencana dan pembiayaan iklim, sambil menggesa pemimpin serantau membangunkan kerangka kukuh untuk menarik pelaburan lestari.
“ASEAN mempunyai potensi untuk menjadi peneraju dalam tindakan iklim, tetapi ia perlu bergerak melangkaui perbincangan dan melaksanakan tindakan tegas.
“Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN yang akan datang akan menjadi detik penting bagi rantau ini menunjukkan komitmen terhadap daya tahan iklim,” katanya.
Dengan pemimpin ASEAN bakal membincangkan dasar iklim serantau, ESCAP berharap Malaysia, selaku Pengerusi ASEAN akan memperjuangkan komitmen yang lebih kukuh dan tindakan konkrit dalam tadbir urus iklim.
“Kami yakin dengan keupayaan Malaysia untuk memacu agenda iklim ASEAN ke hadapan. Kini adalah masanya untuk bertindak dan kepimpinan Malaysia akan menjadi elemen penting dalam menentukan hala tuju rantau ini,” katanya. -TVS