KOTA KINABALU, Feb 24 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi chaired the first National Disaster Management High-Level Community Committee Meeting for this year today.
The closed-door meeting, which began at 10am, was also attended by Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick and heads of Federal and state government departments and agencies.
Also present were National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus and the Eastern Field Command's Commander Lt. Gen. Datuk Mohd Sofi Md Lepi.
Meanwhile, Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee said that the meeting discussed issues and solutions related to the flood disaster which affected Sabah and Sarawak since January.
As an immediate step, the meeting approved the construction of a Permanent Disaster Evacuation Centre (PPKB) in Long Busang in the Belaga district of Sarawak while for PPKBs in other areas, Nadma would collaborate with the Education Ministry.
So far, only one PPKB has been built in Johor, at the Taman Kota Jaya Multipurpose Hall, Kota Tinggi.
"For the long-term mitigation plan, Nadma together with the Irrigation and Drainage Department will realise the implementation of the plan including utilising artificial intelligence and the latest technology, especially in disaster risk management and reduction," he said in a statement.
In Sabah, 14 flood mitigation plan projects will be implemented, with two flood mitigation projects completed and in the defect liability period, two projects in the pre-implementation phase and 10 projects under construction.
Meanwhile, in Sarawak, 10 flood mitigation projects have been planned and two of them have been completed and are still in the defect liability period, while two projects are under construction and six are in the pre-implementation phase.
Zahid said the recent floods in Sabah involved 9,734 victims consisting of 3,120 heads of households (KIR) who have been relocated to 68 temporary evacuation centres (PPS).
The disaster has caused damage to several public infrastructures like the suspension bridges in the Kota Marudu and Pitas districts.
In Sarawak, the 2024/2025 northeast monsoon recorded the highest average rainfall of 900mm compared to the usual average rainfall of 450mm, causing a flood disaster that affected 5,012 KIRs involving 16,670 victims who were relocated to 85 PPS.
However, 32,901 flood-affected families did not move to PPS.
Meanwhile, for the landslide victims in Kampung Lereng Bukit, Miri, 60 KIR involving 209 victims are still being sheltered at the Petronas Sports Village Hall.
"The Sarawak state government is identifying temporary housing areas to house these families to provide comfort to the elderly, children and pregnant mothers while waiting for Kampung Lereng Bukit to be rebuilt and the slope problem fixed.
"Sarawak estimates that 1,335 public infrastructure projects have been damaged and require immediate repair and maintenance as a result of the flood," Zahid said.
— Bernama
