New Straits Times 5 Jan 16;
KUCHING: The newly-formed Natural Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will help the Sarawak government face the possibility of second and third waves of floods in the state.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said 15,000 men from several agencies under Nadma are ready to be deployed nationwide.
Zahid, said the agency is prepared to face any consequences, but noted that the next waves of floods which are expected to hit Sarawak would be mild and would not incur severe damages.
"The first wave of floods in Sarawak is over.
We are now making preparations to face the possibility of the second and third waves.
"Based on projections by the Meteorology Department, the next waves of floods will be very mild if it hits the state," said Zahid after attending a meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia in Petra Jaya near here today.
More than 200 people were relocated to relief centres when floods wreaked havoc in the Kuching and Samarahan divisions recently.
Zahid also announced that the Federal government has approved RM1.1 million for the construction of a retaining wall for a long house at Kelawit in Bintulu.
He also announced a RM650,000 allocation to acquire eight-passenger aluminium boats and an 40 horsepower boat engines for Sarawak.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who also attended the same meeting, said the countless assistance provided to Sarawak showed that the Barisan Nasional government is concerned about the welfare of the people in the state.
Reporting by ADIB POVERA, GOH PEI PEI and ESTHER LANDAU
