With the flood situation worsening in several states, various forms of aid, including the government’s RM1,000 cash assistance and support from banks, are being mobilised to help victims. Additionally, insurance policies are offering some relief to those impacted.

The Federal Government has started distributing RM1,000 in Bantuan Wang Ihsan to heads of households (KIR) affected by floods nationwide since yesterday, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said the aid distributed to each KIR who moved to a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) and in accordance with the conditions determined by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) will be distributed in phases.

“I hope that the distribution of assistance will be fully organised and we do not want any of the KIRS who moved to the PPS to be left out,” he told reporters after visiting the PPS at SMK Matang here yesterday, Bernama reported.

Ahmad Zahid said the Federal Government has also asked state governments affected by floods to also work on providing assistance and emergency funds to KIRS or victims who have suffered major losses, such as damage to their homes and household appliances.

He assured the people that the government has sufficient allocations to distribute the Bantuan Wang Ihsan to affected KIRS nationwide, which has now exceeded 30,000 KIRS.

In fact, he said, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, will increase the amount for the cash assistance if the number of KIRS exceeds the allocation provided.

In the meantime, he said, the government is building 14 Permanent Disaster Evacuation Centres (PPKB) nationwide or one PPKB in each state for the convenience of flood victims.

“For Hulu Terengganu, we have received applications from local leaders (for the construction of PPKB) and we will consider it for the second phase.

“I have asked district officers to identify suitable areas for the construction of this PPKB.

“Allocations are already in place and the Prime Minister himself has given Nadma an overall allocation for next year’s budget of Rm600mil, which is Rm100mil more than this year’s allocation,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said that following a sharp increase in the number of victims, the government has ordered all enforcement and security agencies to be on standby and organise the deployment of their teams as best as possible.

He said cooperation between the Federal Government and the state government regardless of political differences, such as the one that has developed now, is very important to safeguard the welfare of people who have been affected by the floods.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid spent about 30 minutes comforting flood victims at SMK Matang here, which consists of 275 victims from 130 families.

In addition, the Deputy Prime Minister also spent time visiting flood victims at SK Nibong here, which houses 265 victims from 91 families.

KUALA LUMPUR: The floods affecting nine states in the country show no signs of abating, with the number of evacuees exceeding 143,000 yesterday.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the Social Welfare Department (JKM), 710 temporary relief centres (PPS) were opened up to 5pm yesterday to house evacuees in Kelantan, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Selangor, Johor, Perak, Perlis and Melaka.

Kelantan remains the worst-hit state, with 92,295 people from 28,616 families seeking shelter in 288 PPS across 10 districts, according to JKM’s Info Bencana portal.

The flooding in the state has forced the police to deploy a helicopter to deliver food aid to victims.

“The helicopter was sent to flood-prone areas inaccessible by normal vehicles. It delivered food aid to flood victims in Pengkalan Kubor and Lubok Setol,” Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said, adding that nine PPS in the two districts remain impassable to all vehicles.

In Terengganu, the disaster affected eight districts, with 335 PPS providing shelter for 41,730 victims from 11,625 families.

Negri Sembilan activated 14 PPS in three districts for 2,004 victims from 574 families.

In Kedah, 6,741 victims from 12,102 families in seven districts were relocated to 53 PPS in the state.

The Kedah Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said Kubang Pasu and Kota Setar are the hardest-hit districts.

Up to yesterday, 2,675 evacuees from 848 families are sheltering at 16 PPS in Kubang Pasu, while 11 PPS in Kota Setar are housing 2,486 evacuees from 726 families.

Baling is the latest district in the state to be affected by floods, with nine people from five families relocated to the SK Kuala Ketil PPS.

In Padang Terap, 1,223 people from 363 families are staying in 10 PPS, while Sik has 1,083 evacuees from 339 families at eight PPS.

In Pokok Sena, 594 evacuees from 180 families are seeking shelter in four PPS, and in Kuala Muda, 182 individuals from 53 families are taking refuge in two PPS.

In Perlis, 295 victims from 92 families are sheltering at three PPS in three flooded districts.

The floods in Kedah also disrupted the wedding reception of Nur Izzatul Asma Mustafa, 22, and her fiancé Mohamed Khairie Mohamed Kamal, 28, in Alor Setar.

Their dream of celebrating their special day with 1,000 family members and friends was shattered when the homestay they rented in Titi Besi, Kepala Batas, became inaccessible due to rising floodwaters.

The road from Kepala Batas town to the venue was closed to light vehicles as flood conditions worsened.

“We never expected flooding to occur here, as it is usually the east coast states that experience floods at this time of year,” Nur Izzatul said.

In Melaka, six PPS have been activated to shelter 232 victims from 61 families in three affected districts.

In Johor, 423 flood victims from 130 families are housed in 10 PPS in two districts.

Selangor recorded 229 victims from 57 families in one PPS.

Nadma reported that 20 people from seven families are still seeking shelter at a PPS in the Kerian district of Perak.

Pasir Mas, Tumpat the worst affected

143,000 evacuated in nine states

MCMC addressing telco coverage issues

AONE-year-old child is among three people who have died since floods hit Kelantan last Monday. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the first victim was a 33-year-old man who was electrocuted to death when unplugging a washing machine at his home in Kampung Banir Belikong, Pasir Puteh on Nov 26.

He said the second was a 64year-old man who drowned while trying to move a football goal post in Machang on Tuesday.

“The latest victim was the child who was found drowned at his home in Tumpat on Wednesday night. His mother realised he was missing from their two-storey flooded home about 10.30pm,” he said after visiting Repek police station yesterday.

Yusoff advised flood victims to heed authorities’ orders to evacuate, and said: “I would like to remind flood victims not to move at the last minute, as it will pose a risk to their lives.”

He added that this first round of floods in Kelantan was likely the worst in history.

“Till noon today (yesterday), more than 85,000 people have been evacuated and the situation is still not improving. Heavy rain has stopped, but there is still

I would like to remind flood victims not to move at the last minute, as it will pose a risk to their lives. DATUK MOHD YUSOFF MAMAT Kelantan police chief

some rain in certain districts. Pasir Mas and Tumpat are the worst affected by floods.

“Several roads in Tumpat and Rantau Panjang have been cut off and I was informed that floodwaters have started to reach downtown Kota Baru,” he added.

Musang: Jalan Gua Musang-Jeli di Kilometer 35 berdekatan Kampung Jerek menuju ke Jelawang ditutup kepada semua kenderaan berikutan berlaku mendapan tanah sepanjang 15 meter, malam kelmarin.

Ketua Polis Daerah Gua Musang Superintendan Sik Choon Foo berkata, jalan terbabit kelihatan melengkung dan semakin menurun justeru terpaksa ditutup kerana bimbang berlaku pergerakan air bawah tanah.

Beliau berkata, kejadian berkenaan berlaku berkemungkinan faktor cuaca kerana hujan berterusan sejak petang kelmarin.

“Pemantauan dan penilaian dibuat oleh Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) pada malam tadi dan jalan ditutup untuk semua kenderaan.

“Kami risau berlaku pergerakan air bawah tanah dan sedang menunggu penilaian oleh pihak JKR sama ada jalan itu selamat digunakan atau sebaliknya,” katanya.

Sik berkata, pengguna jalan raya boleh menggunakan jalan alternatif iaitu Jalan Jelawang-Sungai Sam untuk ke Gua Musang.

“Berdasarkan laporan daripada JKR daerah, mendapan tanah telah dikesan seawal 10 pagi semalam namun jalan masih boleh dilalui dan dibuka kepada semua kenderaan.

“Pihak terbabit telah membuat tindakan awal dengan meletakkan kon penghalang dan papan tanda sebagai peringatan tanah runtuh untuk makluman kepada pengguna jalan raya,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, anggota penyelamat dan JKR akan melakukan pemantauan secara berterusan untuk mengelakkan sebarang kejadian buruk berlaku.