PENANG will be get a Flood Forecasting and Warning System (PRAB) under Budget 2018, said state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow (DAP-Padang Kota), who heads the state flood mitigation committee, said the state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) director informed him two weeks ago that the system would be implemented in Penang under next year’s budget.

“The system will implemented next year in three to four major rivers in the state,” he said in his winding-up speech for the emergency motion on flash floods he had tabled earlier at the state legislative assembly sitting.

PRAB is already running in Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang. In its second phase, the system would be introduced in Kedah, Penang and the Klang Valley, it was reported.

Chow said currently, the state only had the Penang Alert website that showed information on river levels, rainfall and other details related to disasters.

He said web-based platform might have certain limitations in getting information out to the people during disasters.

He was responding to the various suggestions by assemblymen on creating an effective alert system during the debate on an emergency motion on the floods inundating Penang.

Chow also addressed calls for a special channel to relay accurate information to the people during emergencies, saying that it was easy to spread fake information using social media.

“This morning, there is a viral message that the Sungai Muda bund had burst and northern Seberang Prai will be flooded. It is a fake message.

“The DID has checked and confirmed that it is not true. I hope such messages will stop, as they confuse people who are already dealing with the disaster.”

Chow agreed that the right system was needed to tackle the problem of fake news and to get the right information to the people.

He also said the state took note of calls to give aid and set up a special fund to help the flood victims.

Chow said Penang “would not sink” and would prove that it was a resilient government in facing the flood crisis, together with the various government agencies and the people.

“Penang will get through this,” he said. – November 6, 2017.