Calay News
As the Northeast Monsoon continues its onslaught, exacerbating floods across Malaysia, Kelantan faces a deteriorating situation, while Terengganu witnesses a slight improvement. The Social Welfare Department’s Info Bencana portal reports that 25,392 people from 7,839 families sought refuge in 147 temporary flood relief centers across six states.
Kelantan is most severely affected, sheltering 17,919 individuals from 5,744 families at 63 centers. Terengganu, with 7,113 people from 1,994 families at 74 centers, follows. Sabah accommodates 173 people from 47 families at three centers, while Johor has 103 evacuees from 30 families relocated to three centers.
Concerned by Kelantan’s worsening flood situation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pledged to visit the state and assess the situation. Anwar and several ministers, including Finance Minister Anwar, plan to arrive in Kota Baru and tour flood-hit areas in Pasir Mas.
The Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project, criticized for causing stagnant water and worsening floods, will be a focal point. Kelantan’s Menteri Besar, Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud, hopes for an accelerated federal study to modify the spillway structure of the embankment, addressing the stagnant floodwater issue and preventing further escalation.
Sungai Golok’s water level reached 11.03m on Tuesday, the highest in nine years. The embankment’s collapse near Kampung Lanchang compounded the situation, with officials unable to reach the site due to strong currents. Nassuruddin emphasizes the urgency of flood prevention measures and urges residents to stay vigilant.
As Malaysia grapples with the monsoon’s impact, swift action and coordinated efforts are essential to mitigate the widespread effects of the flooding crisis.
