Bernama 6 Nov 08;
PUTRAJAYA, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The government has set up 4,595 flood evacuation centres and other facilities to face the eventuality of floods in view of the higher than usual rainfall expected next month and in January.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the forecast of usually heavy rain for the two months was made based on calculations by the Meteorology Department.
"So, we cannot discount the possibility of floods occurring during the period," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the federal Disaster Relief and Management Committee here.
He said early notice was given so that residents in flood-prone areas would be better prepared. For rescue work, 1,775 boats, 20 helicopters and 13 Bailey bridges had been provided.
A total of 450 forward bases to store foodstuff and other necessities and 1,182 health and medical teams had also been set up.
Najib said he had asked for additional boats to be booked so that these and other facilities could be in place at the first sign of floods.
"From our experience, the water rises very fast in these areas. So, in such circumstances, if we don't have the assets (like boats) in place when it floods, these areas areas will be cut off from the outside world," he said.
He also wanted the Drainage and Irrigation Department to continue deepening the major rivers to facilitate water flow and prevent the rivers from bursting their banks and causing floods.
"We will also update our information communication methods through all government machinery including tv and radio," he added.
"We will determine the frequency and the web site will also contain more detailed information on the water levels at each point of time," he said.
Najib said that this was as a warning of heavy rain and rising water levels in major rivers for the public, especially residents in areas which were expected to be flooded.
Asked how many areas had been identified as flood-prone, he said: "As usual, the low-lying areas, and we know these areas. This does not include flash floods, this is for ordinary floods. Flash floods occur in the urban areas."
He said the amount of funds was not fixed but the money would be channelled according to the set procedures.
During the floods last year the government spent RM61 million on flood relief.
-- BERNAMA
Malaysia geared up for year-end floods
New Straits Times 7 Nov 08;
PUTRAJAYA: The government has started full-scale preparations to deal with the monsoon floods, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The deputy prime minister said a wide range of assets and facilities had been put in place, especially in low-lying areas.
A total of 1,775 boats, 20 helicopters and 13 Bailey bridges are ready for use, while 1,182 medical and health teams are on standby.
Some 4,490 evacuation centres had also been identified, he said after chairing a meeting of the committee on management and centralised aid for disaster victims at the Implementation and Coordination Unit (ICU) yesterday.
"I have asked for additional assets such as boats for fear of a cut in communications between flood victims and the authorities.
"Authorities such as the Drainage and Irrigation Department will continue to deepen the rivers to avert potential occurences of flooding."
Najib said the Meterological Services Department had predicted heavier than normal rainfall in the next few months.
"We are doing our level best to improve ways and methods to distribute or update information on floods.
"The Meteorological Services Department's website will feature more detailed information so that those residing in low-lying areas in particular will be more prepared."
Last year, he said the government had spent about RM61 million on assistance for flood victims and repairing infrastructure.
Najib said warnings should be issued frequently to those in areas expected to be hit by floods.
The Meteorological Services Department and the Drainage and Irrigation Department will be making announcements on the water levels of the main rivers with the help of Radio Televisyen Malaysia.
The committee also agreed that private broadcasting stations such as Media Prima and Astro would be airing those announcements as well.
To prevent motorists from being stranded, the Works Department will be providing online real-time information on roads or stretches which have been hit by floods.
Govt well prepared to face heavier rains in next two months, says Najib
Mazwin Nik Anis, The Star 7 Nov 08;
Najib: Be prepared in the eventuality of floods
PUTRAJAYA: The authorities are preparing well in advance and on a big scale to respond effectively if the expected heavier rainfall over the next two months brings any disaster.
The logistics alone: 1,775 rescue boats, 20 helicopters and 13 units of Bailey bridges are ready for use.
A total 4,595 evacuation centres had been prepared and 1,182 health personnel were on standby, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“I would like to assure the public that the authorities are well prepared should there be floods,” he told reporters after chairing the Management and Disaster Relief Committee meeting yesterday.
Najib said the equipment needed for rescue and relief work would be sent to the flood prone and low-lying areas soon.
“Once the water level rises, the equipment will already be there instead of having people wait for it to be sent after floods have hit,” he said, adding that the public should not worry about aid such as food as there would be sufficient supply.
Other measures include ordering the Drainage and Irrigation Department to continue deepening the riverbeds as well as directing government-owned media organisations to frequently flash out weather information.
Najib said floods would be unavoidable as calculations by the Meteorological Department had predicted a heavier-than-usual rainfall from next month until January.
Najib said the Government was alerting the public on the possibility of floods to give them time to be prepared, including for evacuations.
