CHUKAI: Food supplies and basic necessities will be sent to Terengganu today in preparation for the second wave of floods, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said this was important to ensure adequate supply of food and basic necessities, as well as transport such as boats.
He added that the Armed Forces lorries would be used to transport the items.
“The government will make optimum preparations, in addition to ensuring coordination among all agencies and welfare bodies,” he told reporters after inspecting the flood situation in Kampung Bukit Mentok here yesterday.
With him were Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Said, Terengganu police chief Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa and Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general (operations) Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said the Health Ministry would also be involved in monitoring diseases during and after the floods, Bernama reported.
He added that the Terengganu state secretary and district officers had been told to remind residents to be vigilant and to evacuate immediately when asked to do so by the authorities.
On the ground: Ahmad Zahid inspecting the flood situation in Kampung Bukit Mentok, Chukai. — Bernama
Meanwhile, the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister and Umno president, said the Putra Malaysia Club under the Umno welfare bureau had sent three trailers carrying food aid worth RM180,000 to relief centres in Kemaman.
“We got Umno involved because we understand the problem of staff shortage faced by government agencies, especially the Social Welfare Department,” he added.
According to the secretariat of the state disaster management committee, the number of flood victims in Terengganu stood at 36,231 people as of yesterday morning.
Meanwhile in PUTRAJAYA, some 100 volunteers from the Musa’adah Squad will distribute relief goods and cash amounting to RM5.3mil to flood victims in three east coast states.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the cash aid was from five agencies including the Musa’adah fund from the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) and Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia.
The rest was from Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia, Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia, Yayasan Taqwa and Lembaga Tabung Haji, Bernama reported.
“This contribution is in line with the government’s desire to immediately help flood victims in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
“In addition to essential goods and cash assistance, this squad will also help clean the houses of flood victims,” he told a press conference after flagging off the Skuad Musa’adah Agensi-Agensi yesterday.
The aid mission to the east coast states involves 14 vehicles carrying food supplies such as rice and dry food as well as blankets, copies of the Quran and prayer kits.
Mohd Na’im said the squad would be working with the National Disaster Management Agency to obtain information on victims who had yet to receive any assistance.
“This is to ensure that aid does not overlap,” he said.
