KUALA LUMPUR – The government has approved RM500,000 under Emergency Procurement for the urgent needs of flood victims in Terengganu and Kelantan, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said.
She said the emergency funds will be used to ensure that there is stock on hand of essential items at stores and depots in flooded districts.
She also said measures are being taken to reach stranded residents in Hulu Besut, Terengganu, where overland movement is almost impossible due to the floods.
“The Fire and Rescue Department will be using helicopters to help the Welfare Department in bringing aid.
“Other agencies such as the Public Works Department, the Agriculture Department and the Kuala Terengganu district council will be using large vehicles such as lorries to distribute food and items,” she said in a statement tonight.
Nancy added that people who cannot reach designated evacuation centres can also gather in public premises such as community centres run by the Welfare Department where they can receive food and shelter. These places will be turned into ad-hoc evacuation centres.
The minister said the emergency funds and measures are being taken as continuous rainfall due to the northeast monsoon season is expected to last until Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bernama reports that as of 10pm, over 45,000 people have been evacuated to relief centres in five states in the peninsula.
Flooding is particularly bad in the east coast states of Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang. Floods are also hitting Johor and Perak.
Terengganu has the most number of evacuees, with 29,717 people from 8,214 families now housed in 273 relief centres as of this evening.
On Twitter, a user with the handle @aisyanabila4 tweeted for urgent help for her grandparents who are stranded at their home in Besut, Terengganu.
SESIAPA TOLONG BERI BANTUAN PADA NENEK DAN ATUK SAYA, ATUK SAYA DIA TK BOLEH BERJALAN MEREKA TINGGAL BERDUA SAHAJA SKRNG DH TK DAPAT CONTACT MEREKA HANYA BERBEKALKAN LILIN SAHAJA . LOKASI DI KG MAK SARA tlong rt #banjir #banjirterengganu pic.twitter.com/UZRSHyhc46
— aisya (@aisyanabila4) December 19, 2022
She said the two of them lived alone and her grandfather could not walk, while the only supplies they had at home were some candles.
She also gave the address of her grandparents’ homes in Kg Mak Sara, Jertih, Besut, adding that she had already called government agencies for help but none had arrived.
Bernama also reports that Besut is among the worst-affected districts besides Kemaman and Hulu Terengganu.
Throughout today, Twitter users living on the east coast have been sharing videos of floodwaters sweeping past homes and submerging cars on the road.
Several tagged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, appealing for help.
A resident in Tumpat, Kelantan, earlier described the current flooding there as the worst ever experienced in 31 years.
The Drainage and Irrigation Department’s website for public information on floods, meanwhile, said that the water levels in 16 major rivers in Terengganu had breached the danger point.
These rivers include Sg Berang in Kg Menerong, Hulu Terengganu, and Sg Besut in Kg La, Besut.
The website also said water levels in 11 major rivers in Kelantan had also passed the danger point. These include Sg Lebir in Kg Tualang, Kuala Krai, Sg Golok in Kg Jenob, Tanah Merah and Sg Golok in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas.
Earlier today, Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said he had filed an urgent motion to hold a debate on the ongoing floods in Parliament tomorrow. – The Vibes, December 19, 2022
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