A TOTAL of 8,481 relief centres, which can accommodate over 2.1 million people, have been set up to prepare for the floods during the Northeast Monsoon season, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Armizan Mohd Ali.

“We want to take proactive action very year and we make preparations – including establishing relief centres. We want to be well-prepared,” he told reporters today.

He was met after officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Pitas district Permanent Evacuation Centre and inspecting the Rahmah Sales Programme.

On November 7, Met Department director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said four to six episodes of rain are predicted until March.

Meanwhile, Armizan said the centre in Pitas is the first of its kind in Sabah and is one of the nine to be built as announced in the recent Budget.

He said the centre costs RM6.9 million and could accommodate a minimum of 500 people.

“The construction aims to provide a permanent structure for victims. It will have better facilities compared to temporary centres.

“It will have accommodation halls, toilets, bedrooms, laundry areas, kitchens, a designated dining area for women, administration room, storage areas, treatment room and prayer room,” he said.

In addition to the initiative, he said the National Disaster Management Agency would collaborate with the State Disaster Management Committee for minor repair and upgrading works in existing relief centres.

When tabling the Budget 2024 on October 13, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government would provide relief centres in nine states frequently affected by floods, including Sabah and Sarawak. – Bernama, November 12, 2023.