PUTRAJAYA: The Communications and Digital Ministry will be handing out contributions totalling RM5.2mil to flood victims in all states.
Its minister Fahmi Fadzi said the fund collection was collected via Tabung Bantuan Bencana KKD with contributions via various ministry agencies.
"For the time being, the fund has RM4.2mil and the ministry will contribute RM1mil as well as daily necessities and food to flood victims as well as provide volunteers.
"The goods were contributed by CelcomDigi and several telecommunications companies," he said at a media conference after inspecting the ministry's Flood Assistance here on Wednesday (Dec 21).
To ensure the contributions and items received reach flood victims, Fahmi said the ministry would cooperate with related agencies to obtain complete information to identify target groups.
On Internet access complaints and telephone lines at temporary flood relief centres (PPS), he said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is prepared to provide and improve the service for flood victims housed at relief centres.
"Datuk Seri KSU (secretary-general) (Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek) had also informed that most relief centres have WiFi equipment activated and we are asking MCMC to coordinate with telecommunications companies to provide WiFi," he said.
As of this morning, five states in the peninsula are flooded namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Perak, with 140 temporary relief centres opened in Kelantan, Terengganu (299), Pahang (five) as well as in Johor and Perak (two each).
Fahmi also welcomed complaints from media practitioners assigned at the disaster locations if there were problems with Internet access and phone lines.
"To media personnel covering the events at the scene and are facing problems, can contact his office directly to quickly resolve the issue," he said.
On damaged telecommunications towers in several flooded states, Fahmi said the ministry had ordered MCMC to look into the matter so that consumers could obtain Internet services.
"This is to ensure the towers can be used again when floods recede. If there is anything that needs to be repaired, it can be done immediately," he said.
He also informed that the ministry would utilise all radio and television channels to send out flood information and prepare for the disaster as an early warning to the people, especially at locations that are likely to flood.
"We will maximise the use of all existing assets to give early warnings. I have also asked the ministry secretary-general to ensure that all radio and television channels remind the people to move to higher ground," he said.
He said the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) had also collaborated with telecommunications companies to deliver flood information via short message system (SMS). – Bernama
