THE government has no intention of declaring a flood emergency for now, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid, who is Central Disaster Management Committee chairman, said this is because only several states and certain districts are affected by floods.

“I don’t think a flood emergency should be declared because it only involves certain states and districts. The state Disaster Management Committees have taken proactive measures along with the district Disaster Management Committees.

“The aid provided has been given to all the heads of families and, at the same time, we have other matters that need to be carried out, including post-flood assistance,” he told a media conference after visiting the Mersing Polytechnic temporary relief centre in Mersing today.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Johor secretary Azmi Rohani.

Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said post-flood management would be more challenging, especially in aid distribution and the process of recovery.

However, he said, the government, through various agencies including the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and civil society groups, will always mobilise resources and improve management and efforts to assist victims.

The Bagan Datuk MP said the government approved an immediate allocation of RM10.5 million in Mersing to build a pump house and install three water pumps.

“Mersing is in dire need of a pump house as a short-term measure to prevent flooding. As such, I immediately approved an allocation of RM10.5 million for the project, with each costing RM3.5 million. It will be channelled through the existing allocation from Nadma.

“I will coordinate this matter with the Johor menteri besar, the Johor secretary, the Mersing district officer (Mohammed Shakib Ali) and the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) senior engineer (Md Shahril Md Shamsudin), as well as other implementing agencies,” he said.

He said the state government was informed that Mersing requires RM2.3 billion to overcome flood issues through long-term plans.

“However, (the district has, for now, only) applied for an allocation of about RM50 million to be channelled to the state government and districts through the DID for medium-term flood mitigation projects in low-lying areas.

“I will sort this out with Nadma director-general (Khairul Shahril Idrus) personally, definitely through the allocation from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

Earlier, Zahid visited the relief centre at SK Bandar Mersing.

He was also given a briefing on the flood situation in the district, including mitigation plans like the ones at the Sungai Mersing and Sungai Tenglu Besar basins, by Md Shahril.

So far, only three states have been hit by floods, with Sabah recording the highest number of evacuees with 2,639 people, followed by Johor (2,464) and Pahang (314). – Bernama, January 28, 2023.