KUALA LUMPUR - Seramai 1,086 mangsa banjir di Sarawak dan Sabah masih berlindung di 11 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di kedua-dua negeri setakat jam 8 pagi Rabu.

Di SARAWAK, jumlah mangsa banjir mencatatkan sedikit peningkatan kepada 609 orang pagi ini berbanding 604 orang malam tadi.

Sementara itu, di Bahagian Miri seramai 210 orang ditempatkan di dua buah PPS, Bahagian Bintulu 88 orang di satu PPS, dan di Sibu tiga orang juga ditempatkan di sebuah PPS.

Di SABAH, Sekretariat JPBN memaklumkan jumlah mangsa banjir terus menurun kepada 477 orang melibatkan 145 keluarga 8 pagi ini, berbanding 505 orang daripada 159 keluarga malam tadi.

Seramai 302 orang daripada 99 keluarga ditempatkan di dua PPS yang beroperasi di Beaufort manakala 175 orang membabitkan 46 keluarga di dua PPS daerah Kinabatangan.

Menurut kenyataan itu, keadaan banjir semakin pulih dan trend pemindahan mangsa banjir di semua daerah kekal berkurangan. - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,086 flood victims in Sarawak and Sabah are still taking shelter at 11 temporary relief centres (PPS) as of 8am on Wednesday (Feb 12).

In Sarawak, the number of evacuees increased slightly to 609 this morning from 604 on Tuesday (Feb 11) night.

In Miri, 210 victims are housed at two PPS, while in Bintulu, 88 people are at one PPS and in Sibu, three evacuees remain at one PPS.

In Sabah, the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat reported a further decline in the number of evacuees to 477 individuals (145 families) as of 8 am, compared to 505 people (159 families) on Tuesday night.

A total of 302 victims from 99 families are housed at two PPS in Beaufort, while 175 victims from 46 families are at two PPS in Kinabatangan.

The secretariat said that flood conditions are improving, and the overall trend of evacuations continued to decline across all affected districts. - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Perjalanan peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Tahun 2024 membabitkan 402,956 calon di 3,337 pusat peperiksaan berjalan lancar, meskipun berlangsung dalam situasi banjir di beberapa negeri ekoran musim Monsun Timur Laut (MTL).

Justeru, Kementerian Pendidikan (KPM) memuji kecekapan dan koordinasi pengurusan bencana di antara agensi dan jabatan kerajaan dalam memastikan peperiksaan yang berlangsung 2 Disember 2024 hingga 6 Februari lalu, dilaksanakan dengan baik.

“Ini adalah hasil kesiapsiagaan awal, pengurusan cekap dan kerjasama erat dengan agensi kerajaan seperti Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA), Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM), Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dan Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia (RELA).

“Ia termasuk Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM), Kementerian Kesihatan (KKM), Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri (JPN), pihak sekolah, ibu bapa dan komuniti,” katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Dalam pada itu, KPM turut menzahirkan penghargaan kepada lebih 100,000 petugas peperiksaan yang merangkumi orang awam termasuk pesara guru.

“Setinggi-tinggi penghargaan juga diucapkan kepada semua 126,636 petugas peperiksaan.

“Ia turut melibatkan 5,780 sukarelawan dalam kalangan orang awam termasuk pesara guru yang telah dilantik bagi memastikan kelancaran pengurusan dan pengendalian peperiksaan SPM Tahun 2024,” katanya.

Kepada calon SPM Tahun 2024, KPM mengucapkan syabas dan tahniah kepada mereka atas semangat juang, kecekalan dan kejayaan menduduki peperiksaan termasuk dalam situasi mencabar.

“KPM mendoakan yang terbaik untuk semua calon peperiksaan SPM Tahun 2024. Semoga kejayaan menjadi milik anda untuk terus melakar kecemerlangan pada masa hadapan,” katanya.

KOTA KINABALU: Severe flooding in Kinabatangan has brought tourism to a halt, forcing lodges to close and causing financial losses, cancellations and property damage.

Kinabatangan, known for its vast floodplains, the Kinabatangan River and rich biodiversity, is a top ecotourism destination in Sabah.

The village of Bilit, home to seven river lodges, is among the worst-hit areas, with businesses unable to operate because of rising water levels. Lodge owners have reported unprecedented losses.

Bilit Adventure Lodge owner Johnny Lim described it as the worst flood in Bilit’s history.

“We have been operating for over 20 years and this is the first time we have been forced to shut down like this.

“The boardwalks are submerged and the water is almost knee-deep in some areas. It is unsafe for us to operate,” he said.

Lim, who is also the Kinabatangan Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association vicepresident, said January and February are usually slow, but this year, there was a surge of tourists from China.

Unfortunately, he said the opportunity was wasted as the floods forced tourist facilities to close.

“Not only did the tourists miss out on experiencing Kinabatangan, we also lost the chance to showcase what we have to offer,” he lamented.

With the floods affecting tourists who had planned river cruises and wildlife excursions, some accepted alternative activities like visiting the Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary and the Rainforest Discovery Centre, while others demanded refunds.

The situation worsened when the Kinabatangan disaster management committee announced the temporary closure of the road from Sukau to Kampung Bilit due to rising water levels on Sunday.

“The water level in Kampung Bilit continues to rise. The road is already submerged and impassable to small vehicles.

“Based on the monitoring team’s assessment and in the interest of public safety, the committee recommends that the road from Sukau to Kampung Bilit be closed to all vehicles until conditions improve,” the committee announced.

However, Lim said yesterday that the situation has been improving, with the water receding and the Sukau-bilit road now accessible to 4WDS. He said that once the jetty is no longer submerged, he would reopen his lodge, adding that he estimates this to take about three to four days.

The main attraction, a river cruise along the Kinabatangan River, offers visitors a chance to spot diverse wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, crocodiles, hornbills and even the elusive orangutan in their natural habitat.

It was reported earlier that tourists from Spain and New Zealand expressed disappointment as their planned river cruises and jungle treks had to be cancelled.

Some also noted that wildlife sightings were affected, with animals moving to higher ground to escape the rising water.

Asked if the floods would affect wildlife sightings during river cruises, Lim said day trips are being conducted despite the closure of the lodge.

“There is still a lot of wildlife to be spotted,” he said. Lim also appealed to the state government to provide financial aid to help the tourism operators recover.

“Three of my rooms are completely underwater and our staff quarters is damaged. We will need a massive clean-up,” he added.