MUKAH, 12 Jan: Seramai 238 mangsa banjir membabitkan 64 Ketua Isi Rumah (KIR) dari tiga rumah panjang di Selangau dibenarkan pulang ke kediaman masing-masing hari ini selepas keadaan banjir di kawasan berkenaan surut sepenuhnya.

Mangsa terlibat terdiri daripada penduduk Rumah Janting, Rumah David dan Rumah Jambai, selain beberapa kakitangan Klinik Kesihatan Sungai Arip, Selangau yang sebelum ini ditempatkan di Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Arip.

Ketua Polis Daerah Mukah, Deputi Superintendan Muhamad Rizal Alias berkata, keputusan membenarkan semua mangsa pulang dibuat selepas pemantauan mendapati situasi banjir pulih sepenuhnya dan kawasan kediaman terjejas berada dalam keadaan selamat.

Menurut beliau, susulan perkembangan positif itu, PPS SK Bukit Arip ditutup sepenuhnya berkuat kuasa jam 3.00 petang.

“Keputusan ini dibuat setelah pihak berkuasa mendapati paras air surut sepenuhnya di sekitar kawasan rumah panjang yang terlibat dan keadaan kini selamat untuk penghuni kembali ke rumah masing-masing,” katanya dalam kenyataan.

Beliau turut memaklumkan bahawa sepasukan anggota dari Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Mukah turut digerakkan bagi membantu proses penghantaran pulang penduduk ke rumah panjang masing-masing.

Katanya, kerjasama pelbagai agensi termasuk pihak keselamatan dan pengurusan bencana amat penting bagi memastikan urusan pemindahan berjalan lancar dan teratur.

Dalam pada itu, beliau menegaskan pemantauan berterusan tetap dijalankan di kawasan berisiko banjir sekitar daerah Mukah dan Selangau.

“Langkah kesiapsiagaan itu penting bagi memastikan tindakan pantas dapat diambil, termasuk pemindahan penduduk, sekiranya keadaan cuaca kembali buruk dan risiko banjir meningkat semula,” katanya. – TVS

BINTULU (Jan 13): No school here is placed on disaster leave, with the first day of the 2026 session proceeding smoothly.

It is informed that the school administrations have implemented the necessary safety measures to ensure continuity of lessons and the well-being of the children and staff, amidst concerns about the weather conditions affecting the neighbouring districts.

As a precautionary measure, SK Kampung Nyalau conducted activities on the first day of school on Monday at Kampung Nyalau Ulu hall, while SK Sungai Silas held classes at SK Ulu Segan halls.

It is understood that these temporary arrangements are made in view of these schools’ proximity to flood-affected areas.

In conjunction with school reopening, all schools in this district simultaneously launched the ‘Anti-Bullying and Sexual Misconduct’ campaign, in collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

The initiative aims to raise awareness among students of the dangers of bullying and sexual misconduct, while strengthening preventive efforts and reporting mechanisms at the school level.

Meanwhile, the Tatau/Sebauh District Education Office (PPD) said 19 schools under its jurisdiction were forced to suspend operations yesterday due to the ongoing floods, which not only inundated the school compounds, but also disrupted the access roads.

The office, in a statement, said an assessment conducted on Jan 11 found floodwaters were still affecting several school premises, with many routes remaining impassable – raising safety concerns for both students and staff.

The affected schools are SJKC Chung Hua Tatau, SJKC Chung San, SK Bukit Mawang, SK Hermanus Assan, SK Kuala Binyo, SK Kuala Kebulu, SK Kuala Muput, SK Kuala Sigu, SK Labang, SK Nanga Penyariai, SK Nanga Tau, SK Pandan, SK Rumah Tayai, SK Sebauh, SK Sungai Bukit Balai, SK Sungai Gena’an, SK Sungai Sebungan, SK Sungai Sengian and SK Sungai Bagian.

“The closures were attributed to flooded school grounds and access roads cut off by rising water levels, making it unsafe to conduct classes,” said PPD Tatau/Sebauh.

Consequently, PPD Tatau/Sebauh District Education Office is temporarily closed, effective from Jan 12.

“The closure will remain until further notice as flood conditions continue to disrupt operations.

“All matters involving student’s transfers and other education-related administrative affairs under the jurisdiction of the PPD Tatau/Sebauh will be deferred, with the new dates to be announced later,” it added.

KOTA BHARU: Sebanyak 1,200 hektar kawasan bendang dalam Lembaga Kemajuan Pertanian Kemubu (KADA) terjejas banjir dengan nilai kerosakan tanaman dianggarkan bernilai RM7.46 juta.

Pengerusi KADA, Khalid Abd. Samad berkata, kebanyakan kawasan bendang terjejas banjir adalah di sekitar jajahan Bachok, dekat sini dengan bilangan keseluruhan petani terlibat seramai 465 orang.

Katanya, petani terlibat bagaimanapun bernasib baik apabila keseluruhan tanaman pada musim satu tahun 2025 yang berakhir pada Disember lalu dilindungi insurans, membolehkan mereka mendapat pampasan untuk kerugian dialami.

“Nilai keseluruhan tuntutan kepada Agrobank adalah RM3.587 juta tetapi boleh dikatakan prestasi pengeluaran hasil bagi musim satu 2025 agak memuaskan dengan keadaan cuaca menyebelahi kita.

“Kita juga mendapati bencana banjir yang melanda Kelantan pada penghujung tahun lalu tidak mendatangkan masalah besar kepada bendang-bendang di kawasan KADA,” katanya dalam sidang media di Ibu Pejabat KADA, di sini semalam.

Menurut Khalid, bagi musim dua 2025, seluas 7,000 hektar bendang KADA memulakan penanaman padi manakala sekitar 10,000 hektar siap dibajak tetapi belum memulakan proses penanaman.

“Secara umum, segalanya berjalan ikut jadual dan kita berusaha mencapai sasaran ditetapkan Kementerian Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan (KPKM) untuk menambah jumlah kawasan penanaman dan meningkatkan hasil melebihi empat tan sehektar,” katanya.

Beliau sedar bahawa penanaman musim kedua kebiasaannya berdepan ancaman kemarau dan berharap Stesen Pam Kemubu Tiga dan Empat dapat disiapkan pada hujung bulan ini.

“Sepatutnya ia sudah siap tetapi kerja-kerja akhir terpaksa ditangguhkan apabila paras air terlalu tinggi. Penyiapan dua stesen ini dijangka dapat menangani masalah pengairan sawah pada musim kemarau kerana ia berupaya menyedut air pada paras serendah satu meter.

“Apabila siap sepenuhnya, kita berhasrat menjemput Perdana Menteri merasmikannya kerana Stesen Kemubu Empat dilancarkan serta diberikan peruntukan khas RM20 juta oleh beliau sendiri,” katanya. –UTUSAN

BINTULU (Jan 13): The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Bintulu and residents of Taman Jason held a dialogue session at the department’s office yesterday.

Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang said a team from his service centre was also present during the meeting to record feedback and suggestions raised, which would be submitted to him as a detailed report.

“During the session, DID Bintulu explained the recent flooding in the area was caused by a combination of factors such as heavy rainfall within a short period, tidal influence at the river mouth, and runoff from upstream areas flowing into low-lying zones—which led to drainage congestion,” he said.

During the session, Pang said residents put forward several constructive proposals to mitigate future flooding, including comprehensive drainage planning for the entire residential area, upgrading and improving the silted drain system, and converting abandoned septic tanks to strengthen overall drainage capacity.

“Constructive communication and face-to-face dialogue are far more effective than confrontation, as such engagement platforms allow residents to share their real experiences while enabling relevant agencies to gain a clearer understanding of ground conditions and develop more practical and targeted solutions,” he said.

He said the Premier’s political secretary Angellie Stephen Raja has been tasked with submitting an application for emergency funding to the State Disaster Management Committee to expedite immediate mitigation measures.

“These include accelerating works at silt-prone hotspots along the Sebiew River, carrying out emergency dredging at the river mouth, and easing recurring flood problems affecting Taman Jason, Taman Jin, and the Bukit Orang area.”

Pang also suggested the relevant agencies consider renting amphibious long-arm excavators, saying that their high mobility and suitability for small-scale operations could improve the efficiency of dredging works.

“Flood mitigation is not something that can be resolved overnight, but with the willingness to reform and take action, improvements can be achieved step by step,” he said.