The relevant authorities have been instructed to focus on making the necessary preparations in facing severe floods anticipated to hit Sarawak, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Home Minister, said that based on weather forecasts heavy rains were expected in Sarawak this year, but not in the east coast of the peninsula.

He said as preparations for the natural disaster in Sarawak, the Kemaman district flood management model would be adopted as a guide.

"We (the government) are worried that Sarawak will be severely hit this time, but we pray we will be able to overcome all difficulties.

"The east coast will probably be spared from the severe floods experienced last year," he told reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Vice President of Zambia, Inonge Mutukwa Wina, here today.

The Kemaman flood management model covers various stages of flood preparations, before, during and after.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek had been directed to assist the Sarawak State National Security Council and National Disaster Management Agency in the flood preparations there, he said.

Commenting on his meeting with Wina, the deputy prime minister said Zambia was keen to learn about Malaysia's agricultural skills and how the agricultural sector was developed here.

"They (Zambia) intend to expand in the agricultural field in order to switch dependence on the country's mineral export revenue to agricultural produce," he said.