Ready to roll: Wan Nadzlin (right) together with several Belantara members inspecting the 4x4 vehicles that will be used in a voluntary mission to help flood victims in the event of a flood this monsoon season. — Bernama
JERTIH: Members of Kelab Belantara 4x4 (Belantara) in Besut have spent up to RM20,000 to modify their four-wheel drive vehicles so that they can help flood victims, says its president Wan Nadzlin Wan Mohamed.
He said the modifications were carried out by members to ensure that their vehicles could wade through floods up to half the depth of the vehicle and through roads which were difficult for normal vehicles to enter.
“Among the modifications was to raise the body and engine of the vehicle to be able to wade through deeper water or mud. Some also installed a ‘snorkel’ or an additional device to remove water so that water does not enter the engine compartment and it can wade through floods to a depth of almost 2m, and a winch to pull other cars stranded in the floods,” he told Bernama yesterday.
Members also spent up to RM3,000 in maintenance costs every flood season to ensure that their vehicles are in a satisfactory condition to help victims.
Wan Nadzlin said that for this year’s flood season, a total of 26 out of 300 Belantara members were prepared with their respective vehicles to rescue victims, especially in the Besut district.
“The club’s ResQ team unit has been activated and we are waiting for instructions from the authorities to carry out this voluntary task at any time in the event of a flood,” he said.
Wan Nadzlin also said that all the drivers in the Belantara club had extensive experience in extreme driving using four-wheel drives and would always bring their own equipment, such as a mobile gas stove and even food, during the rescue work, which sometimes starts from early morning until late at night.
“In any case, the safety factors of drivers and flood victims are always taken into account. Areas identified as risky and dangerous will be avoided by our members,” he said, while adding that the club was always in communication with the authorities to determine the rescue locations that were passable.
