KUCHING (Jan 15): Sarawak is expecting a 15 per cent increase in disaster-related expenditure this year, said Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dato Sri Nancy Shukri.

She noted that the projection is based on the more than RM12 million spent on disaster assistance in the state in 2025.

“For Sarawak alone, we spent RM12,315,480 on disaster-related assistance last year.

“As we have now entered 2026, spending has already begun, and we anticipate an increase of about 15 per cent,” she told reporters after officiating the Kampung Angkat Madani KPWKM programme.

Nancy explained the rise in spending is due to disaster situations that began in 2025 continued into the new year, requiring sustained financial preparedness and emergency response.

At the national level, she said the federal government spent RM49,175,945 on disaster-related support across Malaysia in 2025.

“Given the current unpredictable weather patterns, it is essential for authorities to remain on standby.

“Our hope is that such situations will not occur, but we must be financially prepared to ensure assistance can continue to be delivered to the people,” she added.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seramai 1,553 mangsa banjir daripada 503 keluarga masih berlindung di 28 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di Sarawak setakat jam 7 pagi ini.

Berdasarkan portal Info Bencana Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM), 28 PPS berkenaan membabitkan tiga daerah iaitu Serian, Bintulu dan Sibu.

Di Serian, sejumlah 24 PPS beroperasi, selain tiga di Bintulu dan satu di Sibu.

Daripada segi taburan pecahan mangsa, 1,000 mangsa terdiri dari lelaki dan wanita dewasa termasuk 216 warga emas, sementara 503 lagi kanak-kanak dan 50 bayi.

Dalam pada itu, Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia) mengeluarkan amaran ribut petir, hujan lebat dan angin kencang di Selangor (Klang dan Kuala Langat), Sarawak Limbang (Lawas), Sabah Pedalaman (Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu dan Beaufort) dan Pantai Barat (Papar, Putatan, Penampang dan Kota Kinabalu) dan Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan sehingga jam 9 pagi ini.

Menurut kenyataan MetMalaysia, amaran dikeluarkan apabila terdapat tanda-tanda menunjukkan ribut petir dengan intensiti hujan melebihi 20 mm/jam yang hampir atau dijangka berlaku melebihi sejam.

"Amaran ribut petir adalah amaran jangka pendek yang sah dalam tempoh tidak melebihi enam jam untuk satu-satu keluaran," katanya.

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.