KEPALA BATAS – The Works Ministry is well-prepared for a flood disaster following the Malaysian Meteorological Department’s (MetMalaysia) warning of potential major inundations in several states in the peninsula this November.
Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the ministry’s disaster operations room at the headquarters and the relevant districts would be activated immediately to monitor the flood situation regularly.
“At the department and ministry levels, we need to take care of the infrastructure system so that roads are not cut off especially in the event of a major flood because we want to ensure that there is a route that rescue and emergency teams can use to provide assistance and so on,” he told reporters here today.
He said this after officiating a project to widen the stretch from Permatang Pak Elong to Jambatan Merdeka Bridge from two lanes to four lanes.
The media reported that MetMalaysia has warned the country will experience continuous heavy rain from mid-November, leading to significant floods at the end of the month.
The weather is expected to be more severe as it coincides with the northeast monsoon period, increasing the risk of continuous heavy rain and large-scale flooding.
Fadillah elaborated that the ministry would continuously monitor the flood-affected roads to update road users of the latest situation and ensure that they avoid these routes.
“In addition, we will monitor to find out what form of assistance is needed and will provide vehicles and other tools for the rescue teams at the district or state levels,” he said. – Bernama, September 11, 2022
