THE government will take proactive steps in flood disaster management including activating temporary relief centres earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

According to Zahid, with the co-operation of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the authorities will focus on areas where rainfall is high and expected to cause flooding.

“The preparedness that has been done includes using a new template where the MetMalaysia forecast will be used as a guide to activate shelters before a flood occurs in the area.

“This is to avoid any loss of lives or important documents and damage to property. This is a new step,” he said in Putrajaya today.

According to Zahid, MetMalaysia has forecast three main areas that will experience high rainfall beginning Saturday: the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia covering Kelantan and Terengganu; Sabah’s east coast and Sarawak’s west coast.

He said the government has instructed all federal agencies involved in flood management to co-operate with all state governments regardless of who rules the state.

“This is to solve the people’s problems and not political problems.

“I take this approach, and in my opinion, this is what Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also wants… for his people to be colour blind, and to practise equality and justice for the benefit of the country as a whole,” he also said.

Zahid added that the government is committed to continuing any assistance to flood victims that had been given by the previous administration. – Bernama, December 13, 2022.