Comptroller of the Royal Household Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said the royal advice followed the yellow alert of continuous rain issued by the meteorological department yesterday for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Sabah, which is expected to continue until Jan 2.

“The King advised the people, especially those in flood-prone areas to pay extra attention to the weather forecast and warnings issued by the department and to always be alert if the water level rises due to continuous downpour.

“They are also advised to adhere to all instructions and guidelines by the local authorities to evacuate for their safety and the safety of their families,” he said in a statement today.

While expressing concern for the people’s well-being, the King asked everyone to learn from previous flood experiences to overcome weaknesses and shortcomings in any eventuality, especially when handling post-flood matters.

The King also advised the relevant government agencies and local authorities to stay vigilant and proactive to ensure the highest level of preparedness, coordination and management to face the second wave of floods.

“Sultan Abdullah also expressed hope and confidence that early preparations would enable proper procedures, rescue operations and assistance for flood victims, especially those in remote or high-density areas, to be executed quickly and effectively.

“His Majesty called on all Malaysians to pray that the second wave of floods would not prolong, and for the country to be spared from any other form of disasters and calamities,” Fadil said.