Author: web Desk

KOTA TINGGI, Jan 24 (Bernama) — Three roads in the Kota Tinggi district have been closed to light vehicles due to a rise in water level following continuous heavy rain since early this morning.

 

Kota Tinggi district officer Datin Paduka Hazlina Jalil said the three roads are Jalan Ladang Siang, Jalan Lok Heng-Sungai Mas and Jalan Perani.

 

“However, no main road has been closed so far. The flood is due to the continuous rain since last night and the high tide, so we are constantly monitoring and preparing,” she told a press conference after visiting the flood victims at a temporary relief centre (PPS) at Dewan Taman Desaru Utama, here, today.

 

 

 

One of the residents Md Johari Dol, 67, said the water level rose very quickly.

 

“We have been affected by floods three times now, but this time is the worst because the water rose fast until it entered the house, at knee and thigh level while on the street outside it is at waist level.

 

“Maybe one of the causes of the flood is because there is a new housing estate nearby, thus causing the water to flow and gather here,” he said.

 

 

Housewife Zaleha Abdul Rahman, 36, who has lived in the area for the past nine years, said that most residents were already prepared for the floods.

 

“We are always prepared because the Malaysian Meteorological Department has also issued heavy rain warnings and we follow the instructions of the authorities to evacuate to PPS if required,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, The State Disaster Management Committee said as of 8 pm the number of flood victims in Johor rose to 1,703 in contrast with 1,093 recorded at 4 pm, adding that three more PPS were opened in the districts of Kota Tinggi, Kluang and Segamat bringing the total to 16.

 

“Segamat is the most affected district with 1,229 victims from 325 families housed at eight PPS.

 

“For the Kluang district, a total of 300 people from 84 families were evacuated to six PPS while 174 residents from 40 families in the Kota Tinggi district were evacuated to two PPS,” it said in a statement this afternoon.

 

It said in addition to the three roads in Kota Tinggi, Jalan Senai-Gemas and Jalan Jabi-Bukit Tempurung in Segamat were closed to all vehicles.

 

Meanwhile, data from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage shows that four rivers in Johor have passed the danger level with an upward trend, namely Sungai Muar (river mouth of Sungai Gemas) at 19.06 metres, Sungai Lenik (Chaah Plantation) at 6.66 metres, Sungai Segamat (Segamat Kecil) at 38.06 metres and Sungai Kahang (Kampung Contoh) at 14.7 metres.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) — PAS believes the people of Sweden will not adopt the policies and approach taken by Swedish-Danish far-right politician, Rasmus Paludan who, in a provocative act, burnt a copy of the Quran in Stockholm on Jan 21.

 

PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said he was confident that the ‘Lagom’ philosophy that Sweden practices was in line with the concept of gratitude and fairness upheld by Islam in developing a harmonious and moderate thinking society through the contributions of Muslim immigrants there.

 

“In this regard, PAS hopes the Swedish government will act firmly on the perpetrator as a control and preventive measure to prevent similar incidences from becoming widespread, and if this is not checked it could draw reactions that could worsen the situation,” he said in a statement today.

 

 

 

PAS considers the incident as an extreme and desperate act by Paludan for attention, an act that deserves condemnation by civilised societies globally that want peace and harmony, Takiyuddin said.

 

“Based on the records of his (Paludan) party, ‘Stram Kurs’ during Sweden’s election as well as dozens of criminal prosecutions against him, it is clear the perpetrator is just a troublemaker who is unable to contribute anything meaningful to society and Sweden in particular,” he said.

 

Takiyuddin said the freedom of speech used to insult other people’s religion and beliefs is an irresponsible act that is also prohibited by Islam.

 

 

Paludan was given permission to burn a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm, angering Muslims world-wide.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 24  (Bernama) — The Johor government will continue to monitor the floods in the state, especially the safety of the people, and ensure that the situation is under control.

 

In giving his assurance, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said that all officials and agencies involved, including Exco members, will play their part in monitoring the flooded areas.

 

“The safety of the people is our priority and we will do our best to ensure that the situation remains under control at all times.

 

 

 

“I will monitor the relevant agencies, especially the District Office as the coordinator of the District Disaster Management Committee, to ensure the safety of the people,” he said in a Facebook post today.

 

Onn Hafiz also thanked Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who wanted the Southern Volunteers to be mobilised to help flood victims in several districts.

 

Earlier, the Machap assemblyman and Deputy State Secretary (Sports, Youth and Volunteers) Datuk On Jabbar@ Jaafar visited the evacuees taking shelter at the relief centre in Kampung Baru Sungai Mas, Kota Tinggi and handed over donations from the state government.

 

 

Johor was hit by floods today following continuous heavy rain since early morning. As of 4 pm, the disaster affected a total of 1,093 people in Kluang, Segamat, and Kota Tinggi.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

 

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 24 (Bernama) — Sixty-five people from 16 families in the Paitan district were evacuated to temporary relief centres after their homes were flooded this evening.

 

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee secretariat’s spokesperson said 33 victims from nine families are taking shelter at Dewan Kampung Kumbambangan while 32 people from seven families are being housed at Dewan Kampung Batangon Darat, as of 8 pm tonight.

 

“The floods occurred due to continuous heavy rain since this morning and the clash between seawater and river water in Paitan. The number of evacuees is expected to increase,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

 

 

 

Meanwhile, State Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Misran Bisara said the department received reports on flooding at Kampung Sibaung, Pitas, and the firefighters are evacuating the victims.

 

He said the department also received a report about a landslide that occurred next to a house in Kampung Sungai Karang, Kudat, and checks revealed there was no structural damage to the home.

 

“However, the residents are advised to evacuate due to unsafe and risky conditions. No casualties were reported,” he added.

 

 

Paitan, Pitas and Kudat districts are located in the northern region of Sabah. Kudat is the closest district to Kota Kinabalu, located approximately 185 kilometres north.

 

In a statement issued at 8.30 pm tonight, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said thunderstorms are expected to occur in the interiors of Sabah, involving Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Nabawan, and Keningau, until 1 am.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Education (KPM) clarified that there was no discrimination against non-Muslim students in a workshop organised by a school in Johor Bahru for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students, recently.

 

The Ministry in a statement today said the claim by a Twitter account user that there was discrimination in the workshop organised by Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Infant Jesus Convent, Johor Bahru at Hotel Suasana, Johor Bahru, was not correct.

 

The statement said the workshop was divided into different sessions so as to not disrupt students who were celebrating the Chinese New Year festival.

 

 

 

KPM added that the first session was held on Jan 19-20 at Suasana Hotel for 30 SPM students who had failed in Bahasa Melayu and History subjects and aimed at preparing students for SPM, since both are core subjects.

 

“KPM was informed that there will be another session for other students on Jan 26 and 27 at the same hotel,” said the statement.

 

According to KPM, the workshop was being organised through the initiative of the Johor Bahru District Education Office with the cooperation of the school’s Parents and Teachers Association (PIBG) and supported by parents, local community and private sector.

 

 

The KPM would like to seek the cooperation of parents and local community to contact the ministry through the official platform if there were any issues or problems involving students.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 24 (Bernama) — Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar of Johor today said that any issues that can threaten the harmony and unity of Johoreans must be dealt with efficiently by the authorities.

 

His Majesty said swift and accurate action by the authorities would prevent confusion and the spread of hateful sentiments.

 

Sultan Ibrahim said this in response to allegations regarding an examination workshop only for Muslim students organised by a secondary school here.

 

 

 

 

“I don’t want my Bangsa Johor to be confused and begin turning on each other. I cannot emphasise enough the need for racial understanding, unity and tolerance.

 

“The Education Department must be quick to respond in these situations to prevent emotions and falsehoods from running wild. This is also a lesson to all parties who must deal swiftly and firmly to quell public dissatisfaction,” he said to the Royal Press Office, in a posting uploaded on his Facebook page.

 

Sultan Ibrahim further said that no one should be excluded from any public programme because of their religion or race.

 

 

“If it is true that there was racial segregation, then action must be taken against the organisers. The same can be said if it is found that these allegations are proven false and spread by irresponsible parties,” His Majesty added.

 

Earlier, the Education Ministry clarified that there was no discrimination against non-Muslim students in a workshop organised by Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Infant Jesus Convent, Johor Bahru, for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia students, recently.

 

It said the workshop was divided into different sessions so as not to disrupt students who were celebrating the Chinese New Year festival.

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 24 (Bernama) — The excitement of camping at a camp site in the Kota Tinggi district turned into a horrible moment when about 35 people were stranded in Tanjung Lompat, due to floods this afternoon.

 

Penawar Fire and Rescue Station chief Masri Ibrahim said a distress call was received at 2.19 pm today and nine officers were rushed to the scene to help flood victims, he said.

 

“The drainage and irrigation bank which is the main gateway in and out of the campsite collapsed due to the rising flood water causing the flow to be over six metres wide. The situation made it difficult for vehicles to get out of the area.

 

 

 

“The fire department then opened an alternative route nearby at a hotel so that stranded vehicles can use the coastal road to exit to the main road,” he said when contacted by Bernama tonight.

 

Masri said the victims comprising 12 men, 11 women, seven boys and five girls, were then advised to pack up and return to their respective homes.

 

He said as many as 16 vehicles that were stranded at the site managed to use the alternative route.

 

 

The operation ended at 7.50 pm.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency