PUBLIC MUST NOT TAKE FLOOD RISKS LIGHTLY THIS YEAR – AHMAD ZAHID

NILAI, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- The public has been reminded not to take lightly the possibility of floods this year during the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) period, even though forecasts by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) indicate conditions will not be as severe as last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this is due to unpredictable changes in weather patterns, which have caused unusually heavy rainfall in areas that are typically unaffected, such as Perak and Kedah.

“I informed the Cabinet yesterday about this very unusual development. Normally, heavy rainfall would hit the East Coast but it has occurred in northern Perak and the west coast of Kedah.

“This is the law of nature. What is important is Allah’s will, and we (the government) have taken greater measures to face such disasters,” he told reporters after officiating the Malaysian National Silat Gathering 2025, which was also attended by Malaysian National Silat Federation (Pesaka) president Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin here today.

He said the government through the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) continues to strengthen coordination at the state and district levels, particularly in flood hotspot areas, to ensure preparedness for the MTL season runs smoothly.

Ahmad Zahid said the effort also involves increasing logistical assets for NADMA and other security forces including the police, military as well as the Fire and Rescue Department, in addition to mobilising volunteer teams nationwide.

He said the government is also leveraging MetMalaysia’s early warning system, which enables weather alerts to be issued more than a week earlier so that residents in high-risk areas can make early preparations.

“We request evacuations to take place three days before water levels increase and when heavier rainfall is expected in a particular area. I hope this directive is followed, and we have now installed 1,380 warning sirens in high-risk red zone areas where water levels are predicted to rise,” he said.

He added that the warning sirens installed in those at-risk locations will be activated once floods reach the yellow or red alert levels, enabling residents not only to stay alert but to be fully prepared to move to temporary evacuation centres or designated permanent shelters.

-- BERNAMA