KOTA BARU: The state government will work with the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) and Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) to identify any flash flood-prone areas in the state.

       State welfare, family and women development committee chairman Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi said the move was a preventive step to avoid flash floods or mud floods like what had happened in Kedah recently.

       She was replying to a supplementary question from Amran Arifin (BN-Paloh) in the state assembly yesterday.

       Amran wanted to know if the state government had a mechanism to monitor the situation to avoid a similar incident.

       In terms of planning and preparation for the year-end monsoon floods, Mumtaz said the state has prepared 44 four-wheel-drive vehicles, lorries (nine), heavy machinery (two), boats with a capacity of three to 10 people (13), mobile pumps (two) and life jackets (53).

       “For preparations like data management and monitoring, the Kelantan DID has the flood control operations centre, a telemetry station and flood forecasting and warning programme station.

       “Kelantan DID is making early preparations with the implementation of flood mitigation projects like the repairing of the collapsed wall at Kampung Pohon Celagi, Pasir Mas and Phase 1 of the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project.

       She added that dredging, river and tributary cleaning, upgrading of the drainage system at Terusan Semerak and Sungai Kemasin, upgrading the network and alignment of Sungai Semerak tributary in Pasir Puteh and several others were being carried out.

       Mumtaz also said the state government is planning to introduce a drive-through aid distribution programme during the monsoon season to facilitate the process. — Bernama