Floods: Sabah CM instructs all local authorities to be on high alert

Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor has instructed all local authorities throughout the state to be on high alert given the rainy season.

"Make sure all the drains are cleared up. Do not wait until it rains before taking action. We want to mitigate and must be prepared at all times," he said in a statement after visiting flood victims at the Penampang Cultural Centre temporary shelter today.

The chief minister said the Sabah and federal governments were concerned about those affected by the latest flash floods and would assist all the victims.

"The Sabah government sympathises with their plight, so we are prepared to give an RM1,000 emergency cash assistance to each family sheltered at the Penampang Cultural Centre,” he said.

Hajiji (above) added that the federal government through Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Ewon Benedick, who is also Penampang MP, would also be lending a hand.

At the same time, Hajiji said the state government would also consider assisting those not evacuated to the temporary shelter but whose houses have been badly damaged by the floods.

Earlier, district officer Francis Chong told Hajiji that there were 67 families involving 165 people seeking refuge at the temporary shelter since it was activated at 5.25pm on Sunday.

Chong said 11 villages around the Penampang district were submerged due to the heavy rain on Sunday.

Hajiji was also told that a woman died after being swept by strong currents near the roundabout in Donggongon during the flash flood.

Later, Ewon, state secretary Safar Untong, Sabah Assistant Works Minister Limus Jury and Internal Affairs and Research secretary Awang Shaminan Sahari accompanied the chief minister to check on the flood situation at Kampung Tuavon and Hungab.

- Bernama

Sabah floods: 114 victims from two districts evacuated

Uprooted tree falls on 2 stalls after heavy rain in Nilai

More flood victims in T'ganu, Johor, status quo in K'tan, Pahang

Two rescued in nick of time after car plunges into monsoon drain

Floods: Number of victims continues to rise in K’tan, Pahang and Sabah