KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) have activated their respective war rooms to monitor and manage flood situations nationwide, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, highlighted that this initiative is part of DID’s strategy to manage post-flood issues effectively.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah emphasized the importance of addressing stagnant water problems often encountered after floods by ensuring the availability of essential equipment, such as pumps. This statement was made during his address at the I-Nation Global Summit 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur.

For TNB, the utility company’s war room will facilitate 24-hour operations to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during flood events. This proactive measure aims to mitigate the impact of floods on electricity provision.

Fadillah also mentioned that the Malaysian Civil Defence Force reported
approximately 153,000 individuals have been affected by the floods as of this morning. This underscores the urgency of the activated war rooms and the measures being taken.

During the summit discussions, topics included the challenges of sustainability amid climate change. Fadillah noted that with climate change, extreme weather conditions such as floods, storms, and strong winds are becoming more frequent. He stressed the need to explore ways to ensure national sustainability and public safety, leveraging scientific advancements for better disaster risk predictions and preparation.

When asked about Malaysia’s priorities as the ASEAN Chair next year, Fadillah stated that efforts to advance the ASEAN Power Grid initiative would be a focus. This involves translating green technology and renewable energy into a collective ASEAN commitment to ensure environmental sustainability.