Zahid: Govt on alert, ramps up readiness as El Nino raises monsoon flood risks

The Malaysian government has issued an alert and enhanced readiness in anticipation of a potentially more intense North-east Monsoon season, exacerbated by an El Nino episode that has impacted several countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chairs the National Disaster Management Committee, confirmed the comprehensive coordination between the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and disaster management committees at various levels, following the commencement of National Preparedness Month 2026 in Ipoh.

The government has identified critical areas, such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and the southern states of Johor, Melaka, and Negeri Sembilan, which are prone to heavy rainfall during the monsoon. Ahmad Zahid emphasized that rescue agencies, the Social Welfare Department, and NGOs, including additional support, are fully equipped to manage the situation.

Special attention was given to SPM candidates who would write their exams during the monsoon, with the government ensuring their welfare and the smooth conduct of their examinations by relocating affected students to school hostels. The government has also streamlined the compassionate aid scheme, Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI), to provide immediate assistance to flood victims at relief centers.

Additionally, Ahmad Zahid presented Deepavali supplies, educational assistance, and Smartboard TVs to B40 households, Tamil National-type Schools, and kindergartens in the Bagan Datuk parliamentary constituency, totaling RM70,000 and RM36,000 respectively.