Orang Asli in remote Kelantan and Terengganu areas urged to evacuate early as monsoon looms

Orang Asli residents from the Bateq and Mendriq tribes have had to use boats and bamboo rafts to cross flooded paths in Kampung Pasir Linggi, Pos Lebir in Gua Musang, Kelantan, December 17, 2025. — Bernama file pic

First Published: Monday, 26 Oct 2026 2:39 PM MYT

GUA MUSANG, Oct 26 — Orang Asli living in remote areas have been urged to move to safe locations immediately if faced with the threat of floods, sudden torrents or landslides during the Northeast Monsoon (MTL), without waiting for conditions to become critical.

Kelantan and Terengganu Orang Asli Development Department (JAKOA) director Mohd Faedzyal Mohamed said all Tok Batin (Orang Asli village heads), penghulu (sub-district chiefs) and Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committees had been instructed to step up preparedness for the 2026/2027 Northeast Monsoon, which is expected to begin tomorrow and last until March next year.

He said the directive followed a statement issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department on Oct 23, which forecast three to five episodes of continuous heavy rain between November 2026 and January 2027.

Mohd Faedzyal said village leaders needed to identify high-risk areas, monitor weather changes and river levels, and identify residents who might require immediate assistance during emergencies.

“These conditions could lead to flooding, particularly in areas near rivers and low-lying terrain. Residents must remain vigilant and prioritise the safety of themselves and their families,” he told Bernama today.

Mohd Faedzyal also advised residents to avoid using roads or bridges that were damaged, collapsed or eroded, and not to cross fast-flowing rivers or rivers where water levels were rising rapidly.

Sufficient supplies of food, clean drinking water, medicines and other essentials should be prepared, while important documents should be kept in a safe place in case evacuation became necessary, he advised. 

Meanwhile, Galas assemblyman Datuk Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said more than 1,000 Orang Asli heads of households in Pos Bihai, Pos Belatim, Pos Balar and Pos Hau were at risk of being cut off during the monsoon season because the dirt roads in the areas were vulnerable to heavy rain.

He said routes at Bukit Pasir, Bukit Kelabu, Bukit Sabun and Bukit Piyel needed regular maintenance to reduce risks to road users.

Mohd Syahbuddin also advised residents to avoid travelling during heavy rain and to contact JAKOA if they required emergency assistance. — Bernama