KUALA LUMPUR – Civil society groups and related agencies are advised to contact the affected districts’ disaster management centres prior to channelling aid to flood victims, said Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail Sabri said the move is to streamline the channelling of aid from various parties.
“We are very grateful because every time there is a flood, NGOs will always come forward to aid, (with) agencies such as the Welfare Department aiding efforts as well.
“Each area (district) has set standard operating procedures in terms of food distribution and so on. The aid will usually be distributed to temporary evacuation centres.
“NGOs usually assist in evacuation centres and besieged areas.
“I ask that they please contact the district disaster management centres so they can help, if possible.
“We do not block aid from NGOs, but want to help in terms of distributing aid,” he said in a press conference today, adding at the same time that it is to prevent any other issues from arising.
The district disaster management centres, he said, usually determine the distribution of food in besieged areas.
“They will know which victims have received aid or otherwise, and determine how much is needed. If they are unaware, issues will arise.
“It is best to go to the district disaster management centres and get help from there,” he added.
Earlier today, Bernama reported that Ismail also announced that the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) has started mobilising 4,983 of its officers and personnel, along with 1,015 assets, for “Op Murni” to assist flood victims in the country’s six affected states.
Ismail Sabri, who is also defence minister, said the six states are Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Selangor, Kelantan and Perak, where a total of 22,699 people have been evacuated to 282 evacuation centres.
He said ATM officers and personnel were mobilised to assist the evacuation of flood victims, apart from installing bailey bridges to connect villages, where roads have been cut off due to the floods, with the nearest towns.
Mobilised ATM assets include 800 heavy duty trucks, 197 boats, 10 bailey bridges, six helicopters, and two transport aircraft, said Ismail Sabri at at Wisma Pertahanan here this morning.
He said that 24 officers and 546 members of other ranks had been mobilised for Pahang and Johor, the two worst affected states.
Meanwhile, when asked on standard operating procedures at flood evacuation centres, Ismail Sabri said they had been set by the National Security Council and further details would be announced later today.
“We are alert to the current Covid-19 situation, so the people do not have to worry because there are also standard operating procedures on the evacuation of ailing senior citizens during the floods,” he said. – The Vibes, January 5, 2021
