GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (Met Dept) has denied claims that it was late in issuing a warning about the severe thunderstorm that hit Penang and Kedah on Saturday.
It was responding to a claim by the Penang branch of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) which said that the Met Dept’s warning was only issued at 9.30pm on Saturday.
Met Department director-general Alui Bahari said FMM’s accusation was not true as the warning had been issued “as early as Nov 1” to relevant state authorities.
“For your information, a yellow alert notice was issued on Nov 1 and subsequently, amber and red notices as well.
“The alert was given to all agencies involved in disaster management, through fax and email.
“We have also sent SMS messages to relevant officers in charge of disaster management.
“We have also sent a message to the Penang state secretary and the state Met Dept director.
“Besides that, we have uploaded the warning on our website, Facebook page and Twitter.
“Even the TV channels have been told to warn viewers about the bad weather,” he said when contacted.
A “red alert” notice by the Met Dept is an advisory of heavy rainfall which may exceed 240mm for 24 hours.
The alert will be reduced to amber and yellow as the rainfall reduces or when the weather improves.
Penang FMM chairperson Ooi Eng Hock was reported as saying that the Met Dept warning only came at 9.30pm on Saturday, just hours before the severe thunderstorm lashed the state.
“What is the use of issuing such a warning at night when the heavy rainfall started early in the morning (a few hours later)?
“Didn’t the department forecast heavy rainfall coming to the area due to a tropical storm?
“Is our meteorological radar equipment so backdated that we cannot forecast this bad weather affecting our country?” he was quoted as saying in Malaysiakini.
As of 10pm Sunday night, the Met Dept had issued a “yellow warning” for continuous rain and strong winds in Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Perak (Kerian, Larut, Matang and Selama, Hulu Perak and Kuala Kangsar districts) and Terengganu (Besut, Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Hulu Terengganu).
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are also expected to continue until late Sunday night in Perak (Kinta, Kampar, Manjung, Perak Tengah, Hilir Perak and Batang Padang districts) and Pahang (Cameron Highlands and Lipis).
The massive rainfall in Penang on Saturday was the highest ever recorded in the state’s history, causing 2,929 people to be displaced from their homes as of 7pm. Seven people have been reported dead.
Officials said one-and-a-half months’ worth of rain, coupled with high tide, caused the flash floods in Penang.
The flooding was also blamed on the high tide and rubbish in drains that hampered water flow. -FMT
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