KEPALA BATAS, Nov 6 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants 100 per cent preparedness in the early evacuation of flood victims to face the second and third wave of weather change which is expected to persist until next February.
Ahmad Zahid said all data on weather forecast obtained from the Meteorological Department would be fully utilised to enable all those to be affected to be evacuated by one week earlier before heavy rain or strong winds occur.
“What’s happening in Penang is a lesson, not aimed at pointing fingers but when the Meteorological Department can provide weather forecast results much earlier, then efforts to evacuate can be made. All of this data is new technology and which, if it not utilised, then preparation cannot be done.
“As such, as the chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee, I will use the method of the Kemamam Floods Management Plan as it predicts a week before it occurs. The physical evacuation is done three days before it occurs,” he told a media conference after visiting the temporary relief centre in Sekolah Kebangsaan Bertam Indah, here today.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah. — Bernama
MORE TO COME
