OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
TAIPEI, Nov 23 — Taipei resident Jay Tsai hopes he never needs the crisis guide Taiwan is handing out to millions of households across the island, which faces threats of natural disasters and a Chinese invasion.
The government began sliding the orange booklet under doors and into mailboxes this week to raise awareness about potential dangers, but critics have branded it a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“I hope we’ll never need it but it feels reassuring to have,” Tsai, a 31-year-old 3D animation specialist, told AFP.
“I’ll put it near my emergency items at home, like the flashlight, just so I know it’s there.”
The 32-page booklet offers advice on everything from how to prepare a “go bag” to what to do when an air-raid siren sounds and how to give first-aid.
It also warns readers that “hostile foreign forces” could use disinformation to weaken their resolve to defend the island if China attacks.
“In the event of a military invasion of Taiwan, any claim that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated is false,” it says.
The new printed version is the first time the government has opted for paper emergency guidelines for the public after previously publishing them online.
“A printed copy ensures that... the elderly in rural areas or anyone without access to digital tools can still obtain the information they need,” Defence Minister Wellington Koo told lawmakers on Wednesday.
‘Stay alert’
The guide, titled “In Case of Crisis”, is part of President Lai Ching-te’s efforts to prepare the island’s 23 million people for a disaster or conflict.
“I think it’s quite helpful,” Chi Chien-han, 43, a community leader, told AFP. “It reminds us to stay alert rather than acting like nothing matters.”
However, IT worker Yang Chen-che said the guide was more political than practical and he would probably “throw it away”.
“You can look up all of this online,” Yang, 38, told AFP. “I don’t need to keep a paper copy.”
Chiang Chu-hsuan, 60, another community leader, dismissed the guide as a “waste of money” and said Lai should try hard to “avoid war”.
The defence ministry said Taiwan had studied similar books recently published by countries such as Sweden and France when putting its guide together.
“I think this booklet actually shows our determination of defending ourselves,” said Lin Fei-fan, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
Yeh Yuan-chih, a legislator with the main opposition Kuomintang party, which advocates for warmer ties with China, questioned the cost of printing and delivering the booklet.
“Is it necessary to spend more than NT$60 million (US$1.9 million or about RM7.94 million)?” Yeh asked Koo in parliament.
The government expects to finish distributing the guides to nearly 10 million households by early January.
“In the past, war didn’t feel that close to us,” said 32-year-old resident Ruru Liu.
“But after what happened in Ukraine I think this might help people to some extent.” — AFP
KANGAR: Around 400 people were stranded at Wang Kelian near Padang Besar after a landslide occurred on Jalan Wang Kelian around 1pm on Sunday (Nov 23), following continuous rainfall since early this morning.
Padang Besar District Police chief ACP Mohd Shokri Abdullah said the group comprised 300 Malaysians returning from Thailand via the Wang Kelian Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, with the remainder being local residents affected by flooding.
He added that the stranded individuals were currently being sheltered at Masjid Nurul Husna, Wang Kelian.
"They are safe at the mosque as the area is on higher ground. Police, along with other agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Force, and the Public Works Department are monitoring the situation continuously,” he said in a phone interview with Bernama tonight.
Mohd Shokri said that as of tonight, the road remained closed due to concerns of further landslides. - Bernama
IPOH – Hujan berterusan sejak pagi tadi menyebabkan 15 orang mangsa dari daerah Batang Padang terjejas ekoran bencana banjir dengan mereka telah ditempatkan di sebuah pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS).
Jurucakap Jawatankuasa Sekretariat Pengurusan Bencana Negeri Perak berkata, kesemua 15 mangsa yang direkodkan setakat pukul 9 malam berkenaan melibatkan lima buah keluarga dari daerah tersebut.
Katanya, dua lagi PPS telah dibuka di daerah Perak Tengah namun bilangan mangsa masih belum direkodkan.
“Bilangan mangsa yang berlindung di kesemua PPS akan dikemas kini memandangkan pemindahan serta pendaftaran mangsa masih lagi berjalan.
“Tiga PPS yang dibuka ialah PPS Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Simpang Tiga dan PPS SK Layang-Layang Kiri di Parit serta PPS Dewan Serbaguna Kg. Klah Baru di Sungkai,” katanya di sini hari ini. – KOSMO! ONLINE
BUKIT KAYU HITAM – Ramai rakyat Malaysia yang masih terkandas di Hatyai, Thailand dijangka cuba untuk keluar dari kawasan itu pada esok kerana bimbang sekiranya berlaku gelombang kedua banjir.
Pengurus Besar Cuti Cuti Langkawi Sdn. Bhd., Dr. Baharin Baharom berkata, setakat ini, kesemua rakyat Malaysia yang berada di Paradise Hotel masih belum dapat keluar dari situ.
“Banjir nampak surut tetapi masih hujan. Bekalan elektrik tiada dan terdapat juga gangguan talian telefon.
“Esok kami minta lori untuk keluar yang mana ada amaran gelombang kedua banjir,” katanya hari ini.
Menurutnya, setakat ini dia hanya nampak helikopter pihak berkuasa Thailand berlegar, namun tiada bot penyelamat kelihatan di situ.
Sementara itu, katanya, mereka mendapat bantuan makanan berupa nasi berlaukkan tauge dan kacang panjang, manakala air bersih dicatu.
“Ada juga peniaga yang menyumbangkan makanan dan minuman kepada kami dengan meletakkan peti sejuk di hadapan hotel. Mungkin mereka agihkan makanan itu sebelum ia rosak ekoran tiada bekalan elektrik,” ujarnya.
Baharin mengetuai 10 kakitangan Cuti Cuti Langkawi ke wilayah Songkhla bagi lawatan jaringan usaha sama pakej pelancongan Langkawi dan Selatan Thailand. – KOSMO! ONLINE
MELAKA – Ramai rakyat Malaysia yang cuba keluar dari Hatyai, Thailand terpaksa berhenti dan berlindung di sebuah stesen rehat dan rawat, kira-kira 40 kilometer dari pintu sempadan, selepas laluan keluar kembali dinaiki air.
Keadaan dilaporkan semakin tertekan apabila bekalan makanan termasuk di kedai serbaneka 24 jam di hentian berkenaan habis, menyebabkan keluarga terkandas terutama kanak-kanak dan warga emas letih serta kelaparan.
Menurut salah seorang mangsa, Muhammad Hazwan Zammizi, 29, laluan itu pada mulanya masih boleh dilalui tetapi paras air sungai berhampiran meningkat dengan cepat sehingga melimpah ke jalan.
“Ikutkan tadi air boleh dilalui, tapi sungai tiba-tiba deras, semua patah semula sampai nampak kawasan rehat ini.
“Air laju sangat naik. Kami cuba bertahan sejak pukul 3 petang tadi, ramai yang lapar termasuklah kanak-kanak di sini. Tak sangka benda macam ni berlaku, lagi-lagi di negara orang,” katanya ketika dihubungi Kosmo!.
Katanya, sehingga kini cuaca masih hujan dan rakyat Malaysia yang terkandas hanya menunggu masa sesuai untuk meneruskan perjalanan keluar dari Thailand.
“Kami tunggu tengah pagi kalau hujan reda sikit dan kami boleh teruskan perjalanan.
“Setakat ini belum ada bantuan rasmi yang tiba untuk membawa rakyat Malaysia keluar dari kawasan berisiko termasuk daripada pihak tempatan,” ujarnya. – KOSMO! ONLINE