Pahang ready to face floods on a bigger scale - Muhyiddin

Pahang has made the necessary preparations to face floods on a bigger scale as the levels at major rivers in the state are reported to have breached the danger mark, Deputy Prime Minister Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today. Although the extent of the floods might not be as bad as last year's, preparations have been made, including increasing the supply of food and essential goods, in districts prone to floods, he said. "They are Kuantan, Lipis, Maran, Jerantut and Pekan. I was informed at the briefing by the Drainage and Irrigation Department that 62 hours after floods occur in the state, Pekan will be badly affected. "Already, people have been evacuated there," he told reporters after a visit to the flood relief centre set up at the Pahang Sports Complex. Muhyiddin, who is also the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee chairman, was accompanied by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. The deputy prime minister was briefed for almost an hour on the flood situation in Pahang at Wisma Seri Pahang. Also present was the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Kalid Abu Bakar. The Drainage and Irrigation Department portal reported that the water levels at major rivers in Pahang had breached the danger mark. The levels at Sungai Jelai in Jeram Bungor, Lipis, is at 65.92 metres (danger mark 62 metres); Sungai Pahang in Sungai Yap, Jerantut, 59.32 metres (52 metres). Sungai Pahang in Kampung Chenor, Maran, 24.90 metres (23.50 metres); Sungai Pahang in Lubuk Paku, Maran, 20.27 metres (19 metres); Sungai Kuantan at the Kuantan Bypass, Kuantan, 4.90 metres (3.50 metres). Sungai Jelai in Bukit Betong, Lipis, 74.86 metres (73 metres); Sungai Tembeling in Kuala Tahan, Jerantut, 77.52 metres (68 metres); Sungai Pahang in Temerloh, 35.05 metres (33 metres) and Sungai Pahang in Kuala Sungai Chini, Pekan, 17.15 metres (14.90 metres). Muhyiddin has instructed the preparations for floods in Pekan to be stepped and the immediate distribution of necessary supplies such as food and other goods and in larger quantities. "If the supplies are usually for three days, we will have to send supplies necessary for five to seven days. This is ease the burden of those affected. Fresh water will also be provided and distributed to areas with no water supply," he said. Muhyiddin expressed his satisfaction with the overall preparations in Pahang in facing the disaster in terms of logistics and supplies of food and other goods. He said , he has left it to Menteri Besar Adnan to determine whether more air, water and land transportation assets were needed for the relief operations. The deputy prime minister urged to those in flood-prone areas to exercise caution and to evacuate once they were ordered to do so. "We give the assurance that we will ensure your safety and welfare at the relief centres. We have provided the best that we can given the emergency situation," he said.