Malaysia floods: Pahang worst affected, Johor struggles to cope

NST TEAM AND BERNAMA New Straits Times 27 Jan 17;

KUANTAN: Pahang now has the highest number of flood victims in the country, with 7,186 people from 1,955 families taking shelter at 116 relief centres in nine districts as of 8am today.

Pahang Civil Defence Force (APM) director Zainal Yussof said the number has increased slightly from 6,830 people at 102 relief centres recorded at 9pm yesterday.

He said Lipis, Jerantut and Rompin are the worst-hit districts, with 2,395 people from 652 families, 1,200 people from 365 families and 1,001 people from 277 families evacuated respectively.

"In Lipis, 29 relief centres have been opened, followed by 18 in Jerantut and seven in Rompin," Zainal said.

In Kuantan, 548 people from 119 families were relocated to six relief centres in the district.

"In Raub there are 277 people from 65 families temporarily relocated to nine relief centres,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Maran, 310 people from 93 families were evacuated to seven relief centres after their houses were inundated by floodwaters.

“In Pekan, 496 people from 114 families are taking shelter at eight relief centres in the district.

"While in Temerloh, 913 people from 244 families are being temporarily housed at 25 relief centres," he added.

Zainal said in Bera, 96 people from 25 families are at seven relief centres in the district.

JOHOR is currently the second worst-hit state, with 6,852 flood evacuees from 1,989 families taking shelter at 69 temporary relief centres in four districts.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said, as was the case yesterday, the highest number of evacuees are in Segamat district, with 4,928 people from 1,464 families remaining at 50 relief centres as of 8am today.

There are 1,490 people from 401 families at 12 relief centres in Tangkak, 415 people from 118 families at five relief centres in Muar, and 19 people from six families at two relief centres in Kluang.

Ayub said two roads are currently inaccessible to traffic due to floods in Segamat district. They are Jalan Jabi-Bukit Tempurung, Jalan Pogoh-Tekam and Jalan Kuala Paya-Balai Badang.

Roads still closed in Kluang district are Jalan Kampung Org Asli Berasan, Jalan Kampung Orang Asli Sedohok, Jalan Kampung Org Asli Air Pasir/Kuala Sengka and Ladang Mutiara.

In Pontian, the collapsed bridge at Jalan Kampung Sungai Pinggan is inaccessible, while in Muar, Km16 of Jalan Muar-Labis and Kampung Bukit Bendar are also inaccessible.

In SELANGOR, Bernama reports that the number of flood victims at three evacuation centres in the Sabak Bernam district increased slightly to 356 people from 107 families as of 8am today, compared with 352 people last night.

According to the Sabak Bernam Disaster Operations Room, the number of victims at Dewan Sri Bernam increased to 164 people (from 48 families), from 160 people last night.

At the evacuation centres at Dewan Parit Baru and Dewan Sri Nakhoda, the number of flood victims remain at 163 people (from 51 families) and 29 people (from eight families), respectively.

In PERAK, Bernama reports that the number of flood victims has risen to 506 people from 145 families at nine evacuation centres, as at 8am today.
According to the Social Welfare Department, through its infobanjir portal, the number increased slightly from 496 people last night.

Manjung district recorded the highest number of flood victims, with 207 people at the evacuation centre at Sekolah Rendah Agama Rakyat Padang Serai, and 12 others at Dewan Kampung Tanjung Ara.

In Hilir Perak, 98 flood victims are at Sekolah Kebangsaan Changkat Jong Batu 8 in Teluk Intan, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Tukang Sidin (49 people) and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pengkalan Ara (31 people).

Meanwhile in Kinta, 42 victims are at Dewan Sikh Settlement Tanjung Tualang and 24 others at Dewan Serbaguna Tanjung Tualang; while in the Larut Matang districts, the flood victims are at Dewan Orang Ramai Matang Merbau Sungai Tinggi (two people) and Surau Padang Serai Dalam (41 people).

In KELANTAN, Bernama reports that the situation remains largely unchanged, with 360 people still staying at 11 evacuation centres as at 8am today, up slightly from 343 people last night.

The flood victims are from the Kuala Krai, Gua Musang, Pasir Puteh and Tanah Merah districts.

According to the Social Welfare Department's infobanjir application, 239 people (from 59 families) are at seven evacuation centres in Kuala Krai; Gua Musang 78 people (from 19 families) are at two centres; 25 victims (from five families) are at a centre in Pasir Puteh; and 18 people (from four families) are at a centre in Tanah Merah. Meanwhile, the portal ebanjir.kelantan.gov.my, reports that the water level in Sungai Kelantan at the Krai Steps in Kuala Krai dropped to 25.30 metres, from 25.67 metres last night, but it is still above the danger level of 25 metres.

The water level in Sungai Golok, Rantau Panjang, increased slightly to 9.42 metres from 9.22 metres last night. The danger level is 9 metres.

In SABAH, Bernama reports that 45 people remain at evacuation centres in the north of the state as of 6.30am today,

The victims, comprising 10 families, are at an evacuation centre at Dewan Kampung Binsulung, in the sub-district of Paitan, said Chief Secretariat of the State Disaster Management Committee Colonel Mulliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin.

He said the water level at Sungai Labuk, Beluran, remains at 2.55 metres and the weather is fine.

Mulliadi said seven evacuation centres in Paitan and Pitas were closed yesterday after evacuees returned to their respective homes.

In SARAWAK, Bernama reports that the number of people affected by floods in the districts of Beluru, Niah and Marudi remains at 5,084 people from 769 families since last night – but none has been evacuated.

Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee secretariat chief from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Major Ismail Mahedin said the victims are from 22 long houses.

However, none of the victims has been evacuated, as only the routes to their homes are inundated by floods, and there is stagnant water under their longhouses, he added.

Reporting by NOR AIN MOHAMED RADHI, AHMAD FAIRUZ OTHMAN and BERNAMA


Kelantan flood damage costs top RM30 million: Rural Ministry
BERNAMA New Straits Times 27 Jan 17;

BACHOK: The Rural and Regional Development Ministry has estimated the cost of damage to infrastructure in Kelantan due to the floods at over RM30 million. Its deputy minister, Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, said this exceeds the sum estimated earlier, as the flood proved to be bigger than last year's.

"Definitely a lot of basic facilities like village roads, drains, kindergartens and community halls have been damaged in the flood," he told reporters after opening the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pak Badol Parent-Teacher Association's annual general meeting here yesterday. At the event, Ahmad Jazlan also handed out aid of basic necessities to 141 flood victims in Bachok.

He said all Federal Village Security and Development Committee (JKKKP) chairmen in Kelantan need to do a survey and list damaged facilities in their respective areas.

"A report on this should be submitted to the ministry's (branch) office in Kota Bharu for assessment, and repairs to be done as soon as possible," Ahmad Jazlan said.

He said when doing the survey, the JKKKP chairmen must set aside political interest, as what is more important is the people's interest.

Ahmad Jazlan added that if anyone goes against this instruction, the ministry would not hesitate to take appropriate action them. - BERNAMA


Expect some rain and storms despite improving weather
The Star 28 Jan 17;

PETALING JAYA: Weather and flood conditions nationwide are improving except for Kelantan, where some districts are still having heavy rainfall.

According to the Social Welfare Department Infobanjir website, there were heavy rains in Gua Musang, Kuala Krai and Jeli yesterday, with eight areas recording more than 60mm of rainfall as at 5pm.

In Sarawak, only five areas experienced similar rainfall while Tasik Banding in Perak received 107.5mm.

Other flood-hit states like Johor, Pahang, Sabah and Selangor did not receive as much rainfall in any district.

Dangerous water levels, how­ever, were recorded at six rivers in Pahang as at 5pm, followed by Johor (four rivers) and Kelantan (three).

For today, all states in the peninsula are expected to see isolated rain and thunderstorms at different times of the day, according to the Meteorological Department.

Pahang, Penang and Kedah are the three states that are expected to experience isolated rain in the morning, afternoon and night.

All the three states have also had to deal with flood problems over the last two months.

Sabah looks to be relatively dry as only Sandakan and Tawau will experience isolated rainfall during the festive period.

In Sarawak, rainfall can be expected in the morning in all areas except for Sri Aman, Limbang, Miri and Sibu but there will be isolated and scattered thunderstorms throughout the state in the afternoon and evening.

However – only Kapit, Kuching, Samarahan and Sri Aman will experience more thunderstorms at night.

In Arau, those affected by the floods, especially the Chinese community celebrating the Chinese New Year today, have been advised to follow the directive by the authorities if they are told to evacuate much earlier, said Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said this was important to avoid greater risk during the flood season.

“Residents in affected areas should always be aware of warnings of heavy rain and must be prepared to move out earlier, if directed to do so,” said Dr Shahidan after handing over aid in conjunction with the Chinese New Year to 635 less fortunate residents from the Chinese community at the Arau service centre in Kubang Gajah, Perlis yesterday.

He said flood victims, especially from high-risk groups such as pregnant women, senior citizens and chronic disease sufferers, were also urged to look after the cleanliness and seek treatment quickly, if needed.

Shahidan also expressed satisfaction with the National Disaster Management Agency’s coordination to tackle flood problems nationwide.