CHUKAI – The Defence Ministry has been instructed to mobilise Armed Forces trucks to bring food supplies and basic necessities to Terengganu tomorrow in preparation for the second wave of floods in the state.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move is important to ensure an adequate supply of food and basic necessities, as well as transport such as boats.
“The government will make optimum preparation, in addition to ensuring coordination among all agencies and welfare bodies,” he told reporters after checking on the flood situation in Kg Bukit Mentok here today.
Accompanying him were Kijal assemblyman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Terengganu police chief Datuk Rohaimi Md Isa and Fire and Rescue Department deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin.
Zahid said the Health Ministry would also be involved in disease monitoring during the floods and post-floods.
Zahid, who is also the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said the Terengganu secretary and district officers of the eight districts in the state had been told to remind residents to be vigilant and to evacuate immediately when asked to do so by the authorities.
Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister, who is also the rural and regional development minister, said the Putra Malaysia Club under the Umno Welfare Bureau had also sent three trailers carrying food aid worth RM180,000 to relief centres in Kemaman.
“We get the Umno Welfare Bureau involved because we understand the problem of shortage of staff facing government agencies, especially the Social Welfare Department,” said the Umno president.
According to the Terengganu Disaster Management Committee secretariat today, the number of flood victims in the state has increased to 36,231 people this morning from 36,009 people last night. – Bernama, December 22, 2022
