KUALA LUMPUR: The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) is responsible for ensuring all agencies involved in disaster management are prepared to face potential disasters during the monsoon season, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this after chairing the second edition of the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP) on Tuesday (Oct 17).
"A total of 61,839 officers and personnel from various government agencies at all levels are fully prepared to face any eventuality of the northeast monsoon," he added.
He also said that the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has identified 5,648 flood hotspots involving 161 districts nationwide.
Ahmad Zahid added that for the flood monitoring and early warning system, the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme (PRAB) is now operational at 25 main rivers in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor.
He said that DID is equipped with 1,342 telemetry stations, 543 flood warning sirens,1,526 gauge sticks and 737 mobile pumps.
Meanwhile, he said for disaster victim welfare management, the Welfare Department (JKM) has activated 8,481 temporary relief centres (PPS) in the country and has the capacity to relocate 2,158,743 victims.
“JKM has also received an allocation of RM35.85mil for disaster management for the whole country.
"This allocation is for the purpose of acquiring disaster relief supplies, providing food and beverages for displaced victims in PPS (Disaster Relief Centers), procuring retort food, and disaster recovery assistance," he added.
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Moreover, Ahmad Zahid said that JKM is prepared to increase disaster relief storage facilities throughout the country in preparation for the monsoon season, with eight disaster relief supplies depots (DSKB) located nationwide.
In order to support the effort, JKM has a total of 137 disaster storage facilities at the state and district levels, including 68 mini depots.
A total of 561 forward bases have been on standby to ensure adequate supply of disaster relief items, especially in high-risk areas with limited access, he added.
He said at the same time, all Disaster Operations Control Centres (PKOB) have been instructed to be activated for monitoring and coordination of disaster management purposes.
The state and district central disaster management committees have been asked to implement an early preparation to ensure that the supply of aid is conducted smoothly during a disaster.
He said a total of RM323.63mil will be allocated to the state central disaster management committee for the benefit of 160 districts.
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During the meeting, Ahmad Zahid said according to MetMalaysia, the country is currently in the monsoon transition phase which began from Sept 19.
He said during this period, some parts of the country will experience thunderstorms which can result in heavy rain and strong winds.
The northeast monsoon is expected to begin from November 2023 and will continue until March next year.
During this period, most models predict a wetter weather pattern for the period from November 2023 to January 2024 in the eastern part of the Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak.
Sabah, however, is expected to receive less rain during the period.
Sarawak and the northern part of the peninsula will also experience less rain from February 2024 to March 2024.
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It is expected that four to six monsoon surges, which bring continuous heavy rain episodes, will occur.
The meeting was attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, his deputy Datuk Ugak Anak Kumbong, state secretaries and technical agencies.
