KSN URGES NADMA TO STRENGTHEN COORDINATION AMID FLOODS

PUTRAJAYA, 24 Nov (Bernama) -- The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has been urged to enhance coordination with State and District Disaster Management Committees in flood-affected states to ensure immediate action on the ground.

The directive came from Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar during a visit to review disaster management and 2025/2026 northeast monsoon (MTL) operations at the National Disaster Control Centre (NDCC) in Pulau Meranti, Puchong, this morning.

In a statement today, NADMA director-general Meor Ismail Meor Akim said the agency has also been instructed to work with State Education Departments to ensure Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates affected by floods can reach their examination centres.

Coordination with the Civil Defence Force (APM) will provide transportation or relocation to hostels for affected candidates, while all Disaster Operations Control Centres (PKOB) at state and district levels are to be fully activated.

Meor Ismail said he will visit Kelantan this afternoon, while NADMA is deploying a 10-member Special Search and Rescue Team (SMART) with lorries, 4x4 vehicles and boats to support ongoing rescue operations.

He noted that the SMART team is a specialised support unit, and that all response agencies, including the APM, the Fire and Rescue Department, the police and the Social Welfare Department, remain on high alert.

NDCC is operating 24 hours to monitor information and issue timely early warnings, as flood victims in five affected states continue to rise, with Kelantan recording the highest figures. This is followed by Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah, while Terengganu reports a decline.

-- BERNAMA