LENGGONG: The Perak government is considering a move to relocate the residents of Kampung Batu 7？ Changkat Jong because of frequent flooding.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said he would discuss this with the District Office to identify suitable areas for a new settlement.

       "If the floods are so frequent that they lose millions of ringgit in property (damage) every year, the government can consider relocating them.

       "If we want to move them, we must have a site (close) to a place where there are facilities to make a living," he told a press conference after officiating the 37th annual general meeting of Risda Lenggong Bhd Smallholders Cooperative at Dewan Kemas here on Wednesday (Dec 22).

       Saarani said the state government had previously relocated families and individuals from 20 houses in the Kampung Labit Hardcore Poor Housing Programme, Lenggong on the banks of Sungai Perak to higher ground after the area was hit by floods in 2014.

       In the current flooding at the Changkat Jong area in Hilir Perak, 263 victims were placed in two temporary relief centres in the district with 111 victims at Dewan Bandaran Teluk Intan and the other 152 at Dewan SM Abdul Rahman Talib.

       In an earlier survey by Bernama, residents in the village complained that they were often hit by floods and had to move to relief centres every year.

       Saarani also advised residents in the Hulu Perak, Kinta, Selama and Kerian areas to be prepared for evacuation, following the Malaysian Meteorological Department's warning on the possibility of a north-east monsoon wind hitting Perak, Kedah and Penang on Sunday (Dec 26).

       He said all district offices had been instructed to prepare enough assets to deal with flooding, while their employees were told not to take leave.

       "I also cancelled my visit to the Dubai Expo because I am worried about repeat floods," he said. – Bernama