The Health Ministry will freeze all leave applications for medical staff in several states ahead of unusually heavy rainfall during the year-end monsoon season, newspapers reported today.

“We have received reports from the Malaysian Meteorological Department that there may be 40 percent more rainfall this year-end compared to the same period last year,” Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

“We have prepared our early mapping on which areas will see more rain and which areas are flood prone.”

Liow said ministry staff and medical officers in flood-prone states will not be allowed to take vacation days in December and January.

He said the government’s mobile clinics woull also be moved to higher ground.

Millions of dollars are lost due to flood damage each year.

- dpa