EDITOR'S PICK
The calamitous Northeast Monsoon (MTL) or monsoon season is upon us again...
Every ten years, we can see history repeating itself with a major flood phenomenon. The earliest record could be traced back to the great floods of Pahang and Kelantan in 1984.
Severe floods ensued in Kelantan and Terengganu in 1994, while between 2004 and 2006, the trend got worse with the formation of a tsunami on the west coast followed by a major flood in Johor.
In 2014, the 'Bah kuning' (yellow-coloured floods) affected Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor as well as Perak.
Whether this is a coincidence or not, it remains to be seen. What's certain is that they correspond to a lapse of time, climate change and fast-paced development.
Every single time a flood occurs, it brings great destruction and affects tens of thousands of people. Some even ended up becoming casualties.
Accordingly, early steps are very important to thwart any untoward incidents.
For that reason, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) had issued a forecast early on, stating that the MTL season will reach its peak at the end of this month and continue until January next year, covering even areas in Sabah and Sarawak.
In actuality, the MTL has already begun in early November and will continue until March next year.
Based on the prevailing situation, most of METMalaysia long-term forecast models have shown that rainfall will be 20 to 40 percent more than last year’s total, with the East Coast states expected to experience worse than the 'Bah Kuning’ of 2014.
In fact, as of late yesterday, the Social Welfare Department's (JKM) Info Bencana portal reported that more than 60,000 people were sheltering in almost 500 temporary relief centers (PPS) in several disaster-stricken states.
In light of this development, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also National Disaster Management Committee Chairman, announced that the level of preparedness to face floods in various circumstances has advanced to the highest level.
A total of 82,794 officers and members were mobilised to deal with the floods, particularly in the East Coast.
The government has also identified 8,481 PPS that are able to accommodate 2.1 million people across the country.
Various assets of the security forces have been mobilised including rescue boats, four-wheel drive vehicles and helicopters.
At the same time, an early warning system was also activated to reduce the risk of flood disasters.
It works by giving out alerts to groups at risk of flooding, so that they can do an early evacuation.
As for the PPS, district officers are now allowed to open additional evacuation centers in order to facilitate the temporary settlement of those affected by the disaster. This includes unregistered PPS as a contingency in emergency flood situations.
District officers or chairman of the district disaster committee are authorised to use their discretion for that purpose.
However, it still depends on the criteria used by the chairman of the area disaster committee.
JKM, as the lead agency of the welfare group, is responsible for ensuring the well-being of residents in PPS, including their food and drink, and other facilities operating at an optimal level.
In the education field, several states have also announced the closure of schools in flood-affected districts so as to guarantee the safety of students and teachers.
Among them are the 18 schools in Terengganu, covering four districts.
Accordingly, all the students involved were given a leave of absence and no teaching and learning process will be carried out during this period including home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).
Meanwhile, a total of 41 schools in six districts of Terengganu were transformed into PPS.
In Perlis, eight schools will be closed starting today, and all students will follow home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) until the floods recede and the situation returns to normal.
In the meantime, 669 schools in Johor have been gazetted as PPS to prepare for flood disasters.
However, primary schools are proposed to be made PPS first before secondary schools, so that the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination schedule will not be disrupted.
As previously announced by the Ministry of Education, SPM 2024 is scheduled to take place from December 2nd to February 6th next year.
In line with that, guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to assist all enrolled candidates have been issued.
MADANI's government is always mindful when it comes to the affairs of its people.
So much so that the flood issue was also touched upon at the Town Hall Session in conjunction with the Inauguration Ceremony of the Two Years of MADANI government programme and the 2024 National Public Service Reform Convention, which took place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center recently.
The lesson learnt from the session is that "level of preparation must be made early to reduce the impact of disasters."
Certainly, amid his busy schedule to find opportunities that will benefit the people and the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim never wavers in his concern for the people’s welfare.
Most recently, he chose to postpone a planned programme in Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu for this weekend, after taking into account the worsening flood situation in the state.
In any case, all parties should not be complacent as preparation is the key to protecting oneself, family, and property.
At the same time, a long-term solution to an ongoing issue must also be accomplished.