KUALA LUMPUR: All residents, especially those in flood-prone areas, have been urged to take preventive measures following the severe-level continuous heavy rain warning for Terengganu and Kelantan until today.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi advised the people to obey the instructions issued by the authorities from time to time.
“I pray and hope that this flood situation can be avoided and that it will not lead to loss of lives or damage to property,” he posted on Facebook yesterday.
The Meteorological Department of Malaysia (MetMalaysia), in a statement, said the situation was expected to occur statewide in Terengganu as well as in several areas in Kelantan, namely Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang, Pasir Puteh and Kuala Krai from Saturday. In Terengganu, the areas affected are Besut, Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, Marang, Dungun and Kemaman.
MetMalaysia said alert-level continuous rain was also expected in several areas in Kelantan including Gua Musang, Kedah, Perak, Pahang and Sabah during the same period.
In Kedah, affected areas are Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Yan, Pendang, Kuala Muda, Sik and Baling. Other places expected to be affected are Perak (Hulu Perak and Kuala Kangsar), Pahang (Jerantut, Maran, Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin) and Sabah (Ranau, Kota Belud, Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran, Sandakan and Kudat).
In Kuala Krai, some 10 cattle breeders in the district have started moving their animals to safer and higher areas in preparation for possible flooding following continuous rain since last Friday.
One of them, Mohd Sekeri Mat Shah, 63, from Kampung Batu Mengkebang, said he had also built a temporary shed in a hilly area in the village for his 15 cows.
“Every monsoon season, I will move the cows to higher ground. When it rains, it may cause the water level to rise and flood the area near the banks, which is the grazing area for my cattle. So, when the monsoon starts, I’ll build a temporary shed on higher ground and move my cattle there,” he told Bernama here yesterday.A sheep breeder in Kampung Tengah, Rosli Abd Ghani, 62, said his sheep were normally left to graze near padi fields and rivers.
However, Rosli said, he would have to be more alert during the monsoon as the rain could cause flooding in the affected areas.
“I will always monitor the situation, such as the weather. When it rains heavily, I will not let the sheep out of their barn. I have also identified a suitable area to place the sheep if a flood occurs,” he added.
On Saturday, the Irrigation and Drainage Department issued a warning of possible flooding in Tanah Merah and Pasir Mas, if the rain were to continue.
Meanwhile, the number of flood victims in Perak dropped to 83 people involving 23 families who were still seeking shelter at the relief centres (PPS) in Kerian and Kinta yesterday, from 84 people (24 families) on Saturday night.The secretariat of the state disaster management committee, in a statement, said the evacuee who left was from the PPS at Dewan Orang Ramai Taman Meru 2A, leaving only eight victims from a family still at the PPS.
“In Kerian, the number of flood victims remains the same, with 18 people from three families seeking shelter at the PPS at SK Changkat Lobak and 57 people from 19 families at the PPS at SK Alor Pongsu,” it said.
MetMalaysia has forecast rain in all 12 districts in the state in the afternoon and evening.
According to the Perak Public Works Department, the FT 147 Jalan Selama route in Kerian is still closed to all vehicles. Motorists are advised to use an alternative road on the A111 Jalan Pintasan Alor Pongsu-Bukit Merah.In Batang Padang, only one lane of the FT 1152 Felda Trolak Selatan route is open and only for light vehicles to facilitate repair works.
“The route on FT 001 Jalan Ipoh-Tanjung Malim has only one lane open to all vehicles to facilitate installation of a Traffic Management Plan following a landslide there,” it said.
