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KUALA LUMPUR – All local councils must be proactive in maintaining clear drains and water channels as the first line of defence against floods during the northeast monsoon season, the Local Government Development Ministry said.
Its minister Nga Kor Ming urged local councils to take this step to ensure effective flood mitigation efforts, noting that the Meteorological Department has predicted a second wave of monsoon rain until December 21 that will impact high-risk places and possibly cause flash floods in cities.
The councils must also identify retention ponds and sewage systems that pose flood threats and ensure they are well-maintained and unobstructed, Nga added in a statement today.
“For drainage and sewage systems in need of repair, local councils must ensure repairs are carried out and increase the capacity of drains to handle larger volumes (of rainwater),” he said.
Floods are currently happening in five states, with Kelantan and Terengganu among the worst hit, and Pahang becoming the latest state to be affected by floods.
In Terengganu, there were more flood evacuees as of this morning, at 11,415 people from just over 1,000 people last night, according to Bernama.
In Kelantan, the number of evacuees also rose this morning from over 5,000 last night to 8,465 people from 2,586 families.
The northeast monsoon season began earlier than expected this year on November 7, and is expected to last until March next year.
The Meteorological Department yesterday also issued a continuous rain warning until December 21 for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Penang. – The Vibes, December 19, 2022