KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Welfare Department (JKM) consistently ensures sufficient food supplies are available for flood victims taking shelter at temporary relief centres (PPS) in Sabah and Sarawak.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said JKM has stocked these supplies at two disaster relief depots, one state warehouse, 33 district warehouses, eight mini depots, and 32 forward bases.

“To ensure the well-being and comfort of flood victims, JKM has activated 332 PPS in Sabah and 657 in Sarawak, with the capacity to house 331,343 victims across both states,” she said during a special chamber session yesterday.

Earlier, the motion on flood and landslide disasters in Sarawak and Sabah was raised by Chiew Choon Man (PH-Miri) after the

question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, and was subsequently referred by Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd Nor for discussion in the Special Chamber.

Nancy added that the district and state disaster management committees have been instructed to ensure supplies reach the affected locations and that the involved PPS are adequately equipped with essential facilities.

“The total strength of personnel amounts to 14,209 in Sabah and 24,757 in Sarawak, with various assets including lorries, fourwheel drive vehicles, amphibious boats, and ambulances placed in strategic locations across all districts,” she said.

In addition, she said the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) has requested the division disaster management committees to streamline and expedite the registration process for flood victims in affected areas to prevent delays in the distribution of ‘wang ehsan’ (compassionate aid).

“Even though flooding is ongoing, district-level government agencies are actively working to identify household heads affected, and all eligible recipients will soon receive disaster aid from the federal government through the respective state governments,” she said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Continuous heavy rain at the severe level is expected to occur in Sandakan and its surrounding areas in Sabah today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

MetMalaysia also issued a “yellow” warning for continuous rainfall in several areas of Sarawak, including Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, and Mukah.

In Sabah, a “yellow” warning for continuous rainfall also affects the West Coast Division (Ranau and Kota Belud), Kinabatangan, and Kudat.

The public can obtain the latest weather updates through MetMalaysia’s official website, the myCuaca mobile app, and the department’s official social media channels.

They can also contact the MetMalaysia hotline at 1-300-22-1638 for further inquiries.

Meanwhile, the number of flood evacuees in Sarawak has decreased to 9,039 people placed in 40 temporary relief centres across six divisions as of yesterday morning, compared with 9,314 on Monday night.

The Sarawak Disaster Management Committee Secretariat reported that from the total, 4,492 evacuees are sheltering in nine centres in Bintulu, down from 4,727, while 1,525 remain in four centres in Serian.

Miri recorded 1,406 evacuees, down from 1,464 in 12 centres, while Sibu saw 828, down from 839 in five centres.

In Samarahan, the number of evacuees remains at 523 sheltering in four centres, while in Mukah, the number of evacuees slightly increased to 265 in three centres, compared with 236 people.

The number of evacuees in Sabah has slightly increased to 102 from 27 families yesterday morning. – Bernama

Experts, including slope specialists, have been tasked with conducting studies and assessing the safety of Kampung Lereng Bukit and Kampung Haji Wahid, which have been identified as landslide-prone areas.

In disclosing this, state Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, who is also minister in charge of the Divisional Disaster Management Committee, said the findings from these studies will guide the necessary actions to mitigate risks in these areas.

“Additionally, the commi ee is awaiting recommendations from experts from the Public Works Department (JKR), who were also called to assist in the studies.

“JKR Malaysia has also been asked to assist in conducting studies on these high-risk areas, particularly the hills and slopes,” he told reporters during a site visit to Kampung Haji Wahid yesterday morning.

On Jan 29, a landslide at Kampung Lereng Bukit claimed the lives of five members of a family, including two children aged eight and 11 years.

Lee said four locations in Kampung Haji Wahid and Kampung Lereng Bukit have been identified as high-risk erosion areas.

On the safety of the road to Kampung Haji Wahid and the Grand Oil Lady, the Senadin assemblyman said the route is still open to the public pending the experts’ report.

However, he pointed out that a team has been tasked with patrolling the area at night to ensure the safety of the residents.

On another note, he said Miri City Council (MCC) and JKR have been asked to estimate the cost needed to repair the damaged roads, slopes, and drainage systems affected by the recent flood and landslide.

Kerosakan infrastruktur awam akibat banjir luar biasa yang melanda Sarawak sejak 29 Januari lalu dianggarkan mencecah ratusan juta ringgit.

Timbalan Premier Sarawak, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian berkata, anggaran itu diperoleh hasil laporan awal yang dibentangkan pada mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN) Sarawak, malam kelmarin.

Dr Sim yang juga Menteri Kesihatan Awam, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan berkata, kerugian dan kerosakan yang ditanggung oleh isi rumah dan sektor swasta juga mencecah angka sama.

“Sembilan bahagian yang terjejas banjir di Sarawak sudah mengemukakan penilaian mereka kepada JPBN mengenai kerosakan harta benda awam dan swasta akibat banjir,” katanya dalam hantaran di laman Facebook, semalam.

Mesyuarat berkenaan dipengerusikan oleh Timbalan Premier yang juga pengerusi JPBN, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.