KUALA LUMPUR: The unprecedented rainfall in the final days of November, which triggered severe flooding across Kelantan and Terengganu, has dumped more than six months' worth of average rainfall in just five days, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said between Nov 26 and 30, the rainfall recorded at the Irrigation and Drainage Department stations in Tanah Merah and Tumpat, for example, had exceeded 1,167mm of rain in just five days.
"According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), the reading (in Kelantan) was at 1,442mm, which is an extraordinarily high level of rainfall.
"In Terengganu, MetMalaysia's Besut station recorded 1,761mm of rain during the same period. Overall, the rainfall was at 1,349mm, which is far beyond our expectations.
"The five-day rainfall total was more than six months' worth of average rainfall," Anwar said during the Prime Minister's Question Time in Parliament today.
He was responding to Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat), who asked if the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policy would be accelerated to allow all major flood mitigation facilities to be expedited, including the East Coast Highway 3 (LPT3) project.
Anwar said for flood mitigation projects, Phase 1 covering Tumpat and part of Pasir Mas was 70 per cent complete, and is expected to be fully complete by early 2026.
Phase 2, covering Rantau Panjang and part of Pasir Mas, is being expedited and Phase 3 covering Tumpat, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas and Jeli is four per cent complete.
"However, the Sungai Kelantan flood mitigation and river management project is nearly complete, in which Phase 1 covering Kota Baru, Tumpat, Tanah Merah, Machang and Kuala Krai is 98 per cent complete, and Phase 2 covering Kota Baru has just started this year and is four per cent complete.
In Terengganu, he said the flood mitigation scheme (RTB) in Kemasik was 91.8 per cent completed and is expected to be fully operational by the end of January next year, whereas the Sungai Tepoh and Benggol Air Lilih RTB had just begun.
The three RTBs in Terengganu included the Sungai Besut Phase 1 RTB, Gong Kiat RTB, and Guntung Luar RTB.
"The flood forecasting and warning programme (PRAB) is also quite advanced, and this flood prediction model system uses a hydrodynamic approach.
"Flood simulations are generated by combining various inputs, including hydrological data from PRAB telemetry stations and rainfall forecasts from MetMalaysia, which uses a numerical weather prediction model that incorporates satellite and radar technology," added Anwar.
Meanwhile, the cost of damage caused by floods had reached RM1 billion, with the repair of schools, hospitals and roads being the priority.
"We are waiting for detailed information on the overall situation. Right now, it seems to have eased slightly in Kelantan and Terengganu, but it has worsened in Pahang, and it is forecasted that Johor will also be affected.
"I assure you that immediate needs, such as food, water, and basic facilities, including repairing damaged roads, will be prioritised," he added.