Photo captured by The Borneo Post photographer Chimon Upon shows dark, heavy clouds blanketing Kuching City. — Photo by Chimon Upon

BINTULU (Sept 14): The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) will convene a meeting soon as part of preparations for the upcoming monsoon season, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

“We will issue instructions to all divisional disaster committees to remain on full alert for any eventuality. Floods are unpredictable, and with climate change now a real challenge, we must be ready at all times,” he said.

Uggah, who is SDMC chairman, pointed out that floods had already been reported in Kanowit last week, in Serian yesterday, and in parts of Sibu.

“What is critical now is for our committee to be well-prepared. SDMC must continue to learn from past experiences, because we cannot predict the severity of future events.

“There are important lessons to be learned from incidents where our mechanisms were not efficient enough, whether in terms of equipment, manpower, or telecommunications. All these will be reviewed and strengthened,” he added.

On the RM1,000 wang ihsan assistance, Uggah stressed that all registered families evacuated to temporary evacuation centres (PPS) had already received their payments.

“For those who did not move to the PPS, verification is being carried out by the respective Resident offices. This is to ensure proper definitions are applied, in line with the guidelines from the National Security Council (MKN).

“We want to make sure the assistance reaches the right groups, because the government will be subject to audit later on. Whatever needs to be paid will be paid, and I hope the process will not take too long.

“At this point, I do not have the exact figure on how much wang ihsan has been disbursed,” he told reporters when met during his working visit to Bintulu today (Sunday).