Penang: Penang has identified 53 flood hotspots statewide, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He stated that these areas have experienced flooding three times or more in the past three years, with the Seberang Perai Tengah district having the highest number of hotspots, totaling 18.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this is followed by the Southwest district with 13 hotspots and the Northeast district with 10. The Seberang Perai Utara and Seberang Perai Selatan districts each have six hotspots. Chief Minister Chow shared these details during the launch of the State Disaster Control Centre (SDCC) at Komtar, accompanied by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) Post-Disaster Division deputy director-general, Hussain Moh.
The state government, in cooperation with the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), is currently undertaking 14 flood mitigation projects throughout Penang, with a budget of RM1 billion largely provided by the Federal government. Chow mentioned that no major flood incidents have been reported in Penang this year, with only RM270,000 of the RM2 million allocated for flood victim aid being used so far.
Chow emphasized the proactive measures taken by establishing 389 temporary relief centers statewide as a precaution. He also highlighted the upgrade of the SDCC, formerly known as the State Operations Room, to enhance coordination among disaster management agencies, making it the primary site for information sharing and operational coordination.
The SDCC's capacity to respond to weather warnings from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has been bolstered, enabling it to activate high alert preparedness and field initiatives. Additionally, Chow pointed out the role of digital technologies and monitoring systems, such as CCTV, in observing soil movement and providing early warnings for potential soil erosion or collapses at slopes.
The integration of real-time data and information across various agencies through smart systems at the SDCC, which was upgraded at a cost of RM750,000, is expected to expedite disaster response efforts and mitigate the effects on lives, property, and infrastructure.