PUTRAJAYA, Sept 15 (Bernama) — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has directed agencies involved in the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) operation to fully prioritise locating and extracting landslide victims and rescuing those affected by widespread flooding in Sabah.
Ahmad Zahid, who chairs the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP), issued this directive in response to the escalating crisis in the state, which has experienced a series of worsening floods, landslides, and fires across six districts since Sept 9, significantly damaging critical infrastructure and utilities.
According to a 4.30 pm report from the National Disaster Control Centre (NDCC) under NADMA, the flooding at the tail end of the Southwest Monsoon has also impacted Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
In Sabah, the affected districts include Tawau with 59 evacuees, Penampang (425), Membakut (202) and Beaufort (177), with the numbers in Papar and Putatan still being updated.
The overall figures for the state currently stand at 863 evacuees from 220 families, all of whom are being housed at nine temporary relief centres (PPS).
In Perak, Muallim has registered 194 evacuees at two PPS, and Negeri Sembilan has reported 50 individuals in Port Dickson, while in Selangor, 53 evacuees have been recorded in Hulu Selangor (29) and Hulu Langat (24).
Ahmad Zahid informed that a State Disaster Management Coordination Meeting was held earlier today, chaired by the Sabah State Secretary, Datuk Seri Panglima Sr. Safar Untong, and attended by the NADMA director-general, heads of various departments and district officers to coordinate immediate actions.
“Sabah’s Public Works Department is prioritising repair work on Jalan Penampang-Tambunan with the concession company, following a landslide that has disrupted this main route,” he said in a statement today.
“We are accelerating debris clearance, slope stabilisation, and repairs to fully reopen the road to two-way traffic as soon as possible,” he said, adding that the Sabah Irrigation and Drainage Department is carrying out clearance and mitigation work to reduce the risk of water overflow.
The Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd has also been directed to restore disrupted power supply, while the Sabah Water Department is working on immediate measures to restore clean water supply to affected residents.
The DPM expressed his profound appreciation to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and residents who have provided humanitarian aid to the disaster victims.
“They have provided ready-to-eat meals, daily necessities, blankets, mattresses, pillows, and other logistical support. This has significantly helped to alleviate the burden on affected victims and supported the smooth operation of relief efforts,” he said.
He expressed hope that all flood-affected states would recover swiftly, enabling residents to return to normal life as soon as possible.
He added that NADMA, serving as the secretariat for JPBP, has been instructed to continuously monitor the efforts of government agencies and NGOs to ensure ongoing support for victims in the aftermath of the floods.
Ahmad Zahid advised the public to always be prepared with an emergency bag, to immediately relocate to designated PPS when instructed, to move to higher and safer ground, and to prevent children from playing in floodwaters, drains, mining pools, water bodies, or rivers.
“The public is also cautioned to avoid touching electrical equipment, cables, or wires during floods,” he said, adding that the NDCC, which operates 24 hours daily, will continue to monitor weather conditions and disseminate disaster warnings regularly.
For the latest and verified reports regarding the disaster, the public can visit the official NADMA portal at www.portalbencana.nadma.gov.my.
— BERNAMA
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