[UPDATED] Govt mulls increasing flood sirens equipped with public announcements: Ismail Sabri

KUALA LUMPUR – The government plans to increase siren stations equipped with public announcements in flood-prone areas to warn residents and also to instruct them to evacuate.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a statement today said this was part of the proposed improvements discussed in the Post-Northeast Monsoon Flood Disaster Management Task Force special meeting which he chaired today.

He said the proposed improvements also include having a centralised flood siren warning system coordinated by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and closed-circuit television cameras at river level monitoring stations to enable residents to prepare for evacuation should the river water reach the danger level.

Ismail Sabri said in order to enhance the protection of drainage and beach infrastructure, the Environment and Water Ministry proposed an increase in the average recurrence interval from 100 years to 200 years.

Apart from that, the meeting also looked into proposals to improve communications, education and public awareness through flood simulations and information disseminated by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

“The strategic communications cluster led by the ministry has been active in disseminating information since the beginning of the northeast monsoon.

“Efforts have also been intensified since the second wave of floods was forecasted to ensure that residents, and the country as a whole, would be better prepared and things would be better controlled,” he said.

Ismail Sabri said strategic communications involved announcements on warnings and information on the current situation, government aid, arising issues, efforts to detect fake news, and the rebuttal of fake news.

He said for that purpose, the platforms being used are the mass media, social media, Information Department channels, as well as through advocacy, publication, and engagement efforts.

He added that the implementation of all the initiatives would be constantly monitored by the task force to ensure the national disaster preparedness and management mechanisms would always be improved and be at an optimal level. – Bernama, January 3, 2022