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

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malaysia’s state of preparedness involved comprehensive coordination between the National Disaster Management Agency and disaster management committees at state and district levels, following the launch of National Preparedness Month 2026 in Ipoh last month. — Bernama pic

First Published: Sunday, 01 Nov 2026 3:27 PM MYT

BAGAN DATUK, Nov 1 — The government and all relevant agencies are fully prepared to face the North-east Monsoon (MTL), which is expected to have a more severe impact than in previous years.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the state of preparedness involved comprehensive coordination between the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and disaster management committees at state and district levels, following the launch of National Preparedness Month 2026 in Ipoh last month.

“This year’s North-east Monsoon is expected to have a more severe impact than in previous years, following an El Nino episode that affected many countries, particularly in Asean.

“Nadma, in collaboration with all enforcement agencies, has identified hotspots where unusually heavy rainfall is expected,” he told a press conference after attending the ‘2026 Deepavali Santunan Kasih’ event at the Bagan Datuk Umno Hall here today.

Asked whether certain states would be the main focus during the monsoon season, Ahmad Zahid said Kelantan, Terengganu, the northern states, particularly Kedah, as well as southern states comprising Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan were frequently affected by the North-east Monsoon.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said responsibilities had been assigned to rescue agencies, while the Social Welfare Department (JKM) was prepared with stockpiles of food aid and fully equipped evacuation tents, with additional support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

On Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates who would be sitting for their examinations during the monsoon season, he assured that the welfare of the students and the smooth conduct of their examinations remained a priority for the government.

He said he had discussed the matter with Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek at a recent Cabinet meeting, with contingency plans being drawn up to accommodate affected students at school hostels.

“She (Fadhlina) informed me that students in areas expected to experience severe flooding had been identified and would be relocated to schools with hostels, where they would sit for their examinations. The Examinations Board is also fully prepared for this,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said improvements to the Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) compassionate aid scheme, introduced last year, would continue, with RM1,000 in aid channelled directly to each family while they were at temporary relief centres.

He said the measure would enable flood victims to use the assistance immediately upon returning home to clean their houses and replace damaged household items, provided they had officially relocated to a relief centre, to prevent leakages.

He said flood victims previously had to wait two weeks and visit a bank to collect the assistance, but under the new arrangement, the RM1,000 would be handed to them directly once they were at the relief centres.

“However, those who do not relocate, even if their names are on the list, will not receive the assistance.

“They must move to a relief centre to ensure the funds are not misappropriated or channelled to other parties,” he said. 

At the event, Ahmad Zahid also presented Deepavali essential supplies to 2,000 B40 households across the Bagan Datuk parliamentary constituency, as well as RM100 each in year-end educational assistance to 700 pupils from Tamil National-type Schools (SJKT), involving a total allocation of RM70,000.

He also presented Smartboard TVs to all 16 SJKTs in the constituency to support digital learning facilities.

In addition, Ahmad Zahid presented educational assistance of RM3,000 to each of the 12 kindergartens serving the Indian community in Bagan Datuk, involving a total allocation of RM36,000. — Bernama