KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has advised the public to remain calm and not to panic over the impending second wave of floods.
MetMalaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said based on the latest information, the monsoon surge expected between Dec 8 and 14 would not be as severe as the previous one.
"According to the latest information, this surge is not as strong as the previous one. Heavy rain is expected, but it will not be as intense as during the previous episode.
"MetMalaysia does not foresee this surge bringing unusually heavy rainfall. Therefore, the public need not be overly worried, but flooding will occur if water accumulates," he said.
Meanwhile, a meteorology expert at Universiti Malaya's National Antarctic Research Center and the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Professor Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah said rivers in several states should be monitored to determine if they are reaching dangerous levels.
He said based on current flood information, Sungai Muar in Johor and Sungai Golok in Kelantan, as well as Sungai Daro in Mukah, Sarawak, were at dangerous levels.
"Today's update forecasts winds at 32 kilometres per hour and rainfall of 6.7 millimetres with three hourly average precipitation (HPA). Heavy rain is expected to start at 6am on Dec 9, with a maximum intensity of 40 mm over 3 HPA.
"If the rainfall exceeds 20 mm, it will be considered heavy. This heavy rain is expected to continue until 4on on Dec 10," he said.
"If this forecast is accurate, the risk of flooding will not only affect Kelantan but also the southern parts of Terengganu, Pahang, and Johor. Fortunately, this is not expected to coincide with high tides, so the river water can flow out to the sea," he added.
When asked if the situation would be as severe as the floods from Nov 27 to 30, he said that it could not be predicted with certainty but needed to be closely monitored.
"The public, especially those in the affected states, must stay alert and cautious. People in low-lying areas should pay attention to warnings from authorities such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage and the National Disaster Management Agency," he said.