‘PENANG SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PRECAUTIONS’
Meteorological Dept issued alerts on Nov 1 and 4
THE onus was on the Penang government to do the groundwork to brace for floods following the issuance of the yellow alert on Nov 1.
Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah said the state should have taken precautions by notifying the public, evacuating those in sensitive areas as well as opening up shelters and stockpiling foodstuff and essential items.
He said the Meteorological Department did its job by sending out the alerts on Nov 1 and Nov 4.
“A yellow alert was issued for the areas on Nov 1 and an Orange Alert on Nov 4 via television broadcasts as well as the department’s Facebook page,” he said, responding to criticism and claims that the department did not forewarn the public before the floods in Penang.
The department’s yellow alert is an indicator of heavy rain to come in one or two days. An orange alert means that rainfall was forecasted to continue at the highest level and remain persistent.
Abu Bakar said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had expressed satisfaction over his replies to questions by Cheras member of parliament Tan Kok Wai in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday when he met Zahid yesterday.
Tan had asked whether the department had failed to carry out its duty and only issued the alerts hours before the conditions escalated.
Department director-general Alui Bahari said he would be sending a report on the matter to National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun.
He said the department’s website was updated with alerts, forecasts and warnings.
“This information can also be obtained from our mobile application myCuaca,” he told the New Straits Times.
He denied the probability of similar weather affecting Malaysia as the low-pressure system, which brought about the storms, was travelling southwest, away from the peninsula.
Meanwhile, an orange alert has been issued for Sungai Juru in Penang; Sungai Buloh and Sungai Klang (Selangor); Sungai Serting (Negri Sembilan); and Sungai Malim and Sungai Duyong rivers (Melaka).