Alor Setar: Daerah Kota Setar menjadi lokasi terbaru banjir, menjadikan jumlah mangsa banjir di Kedah terus meningkat kepada 2,731 orang dari 925 keluarga yang ditempatkan di 17 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di dua daerah di negeri ini.

Jumlah itu meningkat berbanding 2,043 mangsa daripada 726 keluarga di 17 PPS yang dilaporkan pada 12 tengah malam tadi.

Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri Kedah dalam kenyataannya memaklumkan, mangsa banjir di daerah Kubang Pasu kini mencecah 2,043 orang daripada 726 keluarga setakat ini.

Kesemua mangsa banjir berkenaan ditempatkan di 15 PPS di daerah ini.

Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) meminta supaya mana-mana badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang ingin menyalurkan bantuan kepada mangsa di Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) melalui proses yang betul.

Ketua Pengarah NADMA, Meor Ismail Meor Akim berkata, pihaknya mengalu-alukan sebarang bantuan, namun NGO perlu berurusan atau menghubungi Ketua Jajahan, Pusat kawalan operasi bencana (PKOB) dan mempunyai kelulusan Ketua Polis Daerah.

Beliau berkata, tiada halangan untuk agihan sumbangan namun perlu melalui pihak berwajib bagi memastikan agihan dibuat dengan penyelarasan betul.

“NADMA mengalu-alukan segala bantuan yang hendak dihulur semua NGO, tiada sekatan cuma perlu disalur mengikut prosedur ditetapkan.

“Bukan kita nak kawal tapi untuk memudahkan supaya ia lebih terselaras. Semua bantuan mesti melalui ketua jajahan, PKOB atau mesti ada kelulusan OCPD (ketua polis daerah), NGO datang kena melalui (proses) ini.

“Kita tak halang, ibarat datang rumah orang, jangan main terjah, ini nak bagi bantuan. Kalau ikhlas nak bagi, ikut saluran yang ditetapkan,” katanya dalam sidang media di sini, semalam.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditanya mengenai dakwaan ada NGO tidak dapat mengagihkan bantuan kepada mangsa banjir di sebuah PPS disebabkan tidak mengikut prosedur itu.

Mengulas lanjut, Meor Ismail berkata, setakat ini tiada laporan lain diterima berhubung sebarang isu di PPS dan meminta mana-mana pihak luar yang ingin membantu memberi kerjasama dan mengikut peraturan. “Kadang-kadang kalau tak kawal, sesuatu PPS terima banyak sangat bantuan ataupun memperoleh barangan sama contohnya air minuman yang dihantar oleh NGO, tak kan nak terima barangan sama selepas itu? Jadi agihlah ke PPS lain.

“Pegawai daerah lebih tahu mana PPS yang lebih memerlukan dan ini bukan kali pertama banjir, berlaku setiap tahun dan peraturan (ditetapkan) semua orang tahu,” katanya.

Kita tak halang, ibarat datang rumah orang, jangan main terjah Meor Ismail

WITH the flood situation worsening in the country and the number of evacuees standing at 22,983 up to 4pm yesterday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has weighed in on the matter.

The king said that all essential supplies should be fully provided to flood evacuees at temporary relief centres.

Sultan Ibrahim, on Facebook, instructed the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to ensure the relief centres were safe, well-maintained and capable of supporting evacuees.

“Ensure basic amenities, food supplies and medical aid are sufficiently available,” he said through the Royal Press Office.

Sultan Ibrahim also reminded people to follow evacuation orders and avoid dangerous areas. He expressed appreciation to security forces, rescue agencies, volunteers and all parties working tirelessly to help affected communities.

The king also offered prayers for the safety and resilience of all flood victims facing the disaster.

The 22,983 flood victims come from 7,300 families, housed in 110 relief centres across 22 districts in seven states, according to the National Disaster Command Centre (NDCC).

The hardest-hit states are Kelantan (9,564 victims), Perlis (5,966) and Perak (3,092), with national trends indicating a continued rise in evacuee numbers.

Kelantan continues to record the highest number of relief centres at 40. While major districts such as Tumpat and Kota Baru have seen a decline in flood numbers, Bachok and Pasir Puteh have reported rising evacuee figures.

Perlis remains fully affected by flooding, with 1,516 families evacuated — a figure that continues to climb.

In Perak, all 35 relief centres have reported increasing numbers of victims, particularly in Manjung, Perak Tengah, Bagan Datuk and Hilir Perak.

Selangor has 751 families (2,729 victims) in 20 relief centres, with flood levels rising in Kuala Selangor, Klang and Sabak Bernam, while Petaling and Hulu Langat show some improvement.

Localised floods in Kedah (1,503 victims), Penang (87 victims) and Pahang (42 victims) are being monitored, with Pahang’s Lipis district newly affected.

Multiple thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong wind warnings remain in effect across the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak.

The Meteorological Department has issued continuous rain alerts for parts of Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak and Pahang until today, with several areas placed under the “severe” and “danger” categories.

High-risk zones include Kelantan’s Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Bachok and Pasir Puteh; Perlis; Kedah’s Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pendang and Sik; and Terengganu’s Besut, Setiu, Hulu Terengganu and Kuala Terengganu.

Telemetry readings indicate several rivers approaching or exceeding alert thresholds, including Sungai Batu Pahat (Johor), Sungai Perlis (Padang Besar, Arau, Kangar) and Sungai Prai (Penang). No rivers are at danger levels, but conditions remain dynamic due to ongoing rainfall.

Up to 4pm, over 100 roads have been closed, partially closed or restricted due to flooding, landslides, collapsed slopes or structural damage.

NDCC reported that major dams remained mostly at normal or watch levels, though several were at full capacity, including Congok, Bekok and Linggiu (Johor), Timah Tasoh (Perlis), Sungai Semenyih and Klang Gates (Selangor) and Sungai Beringin and Ulu Sepri (Negri Sembilan).

Authorities are monitoring inflows due to ongoing rainfall.

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the floods that have inundated many areas nationwide were a major concern as the government had already spent huge amounts on mitigation works.

The prime minister said he had been monitoring developments in the country and receiving updates while on his trip to Africa for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, with stopovers in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and Nairobi in Kenya.

“I have been monitoring, of course... twice a day,” he said. “We have instructed all agencies, including Nadma (the National Disaster Management Agency), to do the maximum, whatever that is to ease the burden (on flood victims).”

Anwar was speaking to reporters onboard the Malaysia Airlines plane bringing him back to Kuala Lumpur on Monday night. Anwar said the floods were troubling as the government had disbursed much funds for mitigation.

He said such works previously took time to complete due to issues such as land acquisition and contract and tender processes, but much of it was now underway.

“You can see, for example, some areas in Kelantan where the flood mitigation project has been completed. You can see the substantial reduction in impact and losses.”

Anwar said the government was now focused on immediate measures to help the victims. He said he had been told that the situation was fluid, with some flood relief centres closed while others were being opened.

“The worrying part is that too many are affected. “From the latest figures I read just now, some centres have closed, which means things are returning to normal.

“It is a sort of flash flood. But I think in Kuala Lumpur, the soil erosion is affecting many residential areas and trees are being uprooted.”

On the preparedness of disaster management teams, Anwar said the various agencies had done an admirable job in helping victims.

“We can compare it with many countries. We were quite prepared.

“Meetings were held months before, chaired by Datuk Seri Zahid and we got weekly reports even before I left,” Anwar said, referring to his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who, as National Disaster Management Committee chairman, oversees Nadma.

Anwar said the authorities had anticipated heavy rainfall in certain areas and Nadma had opened relief centres swiftly. “So, I think we are doing our best.”

The number of evacuees nationwide rose to more than 20,000 people up to 4pm yesterday, with Kelantan, Perlis and Perak recording the largest increases following continuous heavy rain across the northern and east coast states.

Nadma said it was well prepared to handle the first and subsequent waves of the northeast monsoon, with more than 100,000 personnel on standby.

Bernama reported that Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said Anwar was briefed on the latest flood developments shortly after returning from Africa.

He said he had the opportunity to update Anwar on the flood situation as well as matters concerning the public service.

“In the brief window available, I was able to provide him with the latest updates on the ongoing floods affecting several states, alongside updates on public service matters,” he said on social media.