Year: 2021

DENGKIL, Dec 28 — The Dengkil Bridge over Sungai Langat which collapsed on Dec 17 is expected to be fully repaired and opened to vehicles by the end of next January.

Selangor Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said currently, the repair works to the bridge which connected Dengkil to Banting had reached 30 per cent.

“The District Engineer is expecting its reopening to be by next Jan 20, the earliest, that is, two or three days after completion and certified to be safe,” he told the media when visiting the location of the collapsed bridge, here, today .

The Dengkil Bridge was closed to traffic on Dec 17 as the flood on Dec 18 had made the hole at the bridge bigger.

Amirudin also said that the state government would be expanding its flood aid to include those in the agriculture, business and school sectors.

“This (aid) will be announced from time to time as currently we want to first settle the matter involving the flood victims at their homes and those who died in the floods.

“Then we look at the affected agricultural land, schools and businesses. I know that many of the farmers are also affected, as well as the shops and factories.

“We definitely wish to help all but we (state government) are also looking at our own ability as now we are focusing on the cleansing operations and distribution of basic essentials to the flood victims,” he said.

On the bantuan wang ihsan bencana (disaster compassionate cash aid), he said the state government estimated that over 30,000 flood-affected families would be receiving it.

The distribution will start tomorrow for 9,000 families at the flood relief centres (PPS).

“We will also try to contact those flood victims who have returned to their homes, besides identifying the others who did not evacuate to the PPS.

“In Sepang alone, we have 9,000 families who did not move to the PPS, hence so far, we have 18,000 of such families but I think the figure has reached over 30,000 as in the other districts we did not get a chance to identify them,” said Amirudin.

On Dec 21, Amirudin announced the disaster bantuan wang ihsan for all the flood-affected residents in the state involving RM10,000 for each family of the victims who perished in the floods and RM1,000 for each flood-affected family.

Other forms of assistance were also announced involving health, exemption of one month’s water bill payment and deferment on loan repayment for entrepreneurs under the Hijrah Selangor initiative.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JASIN, Dec 28 — After nine days at the SK Parit Penghulu relief centre here, flood victims can’t wait to go home, but are restless thinking about their housing area which is still inundated in stagnant floodwaters despite the improving weather conditions.

Norliah Abdullah, 52, from Kampung Lanchang said there were no instructions to return home so far, as the place where she lived with her husband and three other children was still flooded up to the calf-level since Dec 18.

“Previously, floodwaters never entered our house, it only used to be at a low level, and there was no need to move to a relief centre, but this time the heavy rain caused the nearby catchment pool to overflow, which caused the floods. Although the inside of our house is dry, there is still stagnant water in the surrounding area.

“I can’t wait to go home, there is nothing much for us to do here, only eat and sleep all day. The school holidays are also almost over, I’m worried it will disrupt the children’s studies,” she said when met by Bernama here today.

Meanwhile, Norliah said she was thankful for the good treatment they received during their stay at the relief centre, adding that there was sufficient food and security provided at the premises.

“I hope and pray that the situation at home improves, and that efforts are made so that the water in the area around our house recedes and dries up so that we can return home,” she said.

Meanwhile, another flood victim, Noryanti Maidin, 35, from Kampung Tersusun here, who had also been ‘trapped’ for more than a week at the relief centre, after water from Sungai Kundang near her mother’s home had overflowed into their living area.

“Every time it rains, we are ready for any eventuality. All valuables including electrical appliances and clothes are still placed in high places, as it (flooding) happens almost every year, but we have accepted this fact as the house is in a low-lying area and is next to the river.

“We accept this situation as a test, and are very grateful as we are being treated very kindly here, and feel comfortable, while also receiving various other assistance,” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Dec 28 — The Southern Volunteers (SV) team is now a member of the Johor Disaster Management Committee (JDMC) as part of the state government’s preparations in facing floods.

Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the preparations in facing floods in Johor should be comprehensive, including post-flood recovery whereby the SV team could be mobilised to provide aid, in line with enforcement agencies such as the Civil Defence Force assisting the flood victims.

“Our plan should cover both flood preparations and post-flood recovery to make it easier for groups such as the SV team to coordinate the donations from various parties to be given to those in need,” he said in his speech after witnessing 20 local companies donating various necessities worth over RM400,000 to SV, here, today.

Meanwhile, Deputy State Secretary, On Jabbar, when met by reporters, said he welcomed the announcement made by Hasni, adding that the SV team was on standby to help the state government in preparing for floods.

He said there were 20,000 SV volunteers in each district and was confident that the number would increase.

“The Southern Volunteers’ preparation in facing floods is divided into three phases, with the first phase being before the flood, such as collecting items for the use of flood victims.

“The second phase involves mobilising the volunteers to the flood relief centres and sending food supplies, while the third is post-flood recovery that focuses on cleansing work,” he added.

On said that all the flood assistance items donated by the 20 local companies were part of the state government’s preparations for the flood, where the items were gathered at the Johor Malaysian Games (Sukma) secretariat office.

“However, if we get an indication from the Meteorological Department that there will be no floods in Johor, we will send the necessities to the flood-hit states such as Selangor, Pahang and Melaka.

“We received an alert from the department that the state was expected to experience heavy rain this week,” he said, adding that the SV team also assisted flood victims in Shah Alam and Hulu Langat recently.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — The Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a yellow alert of continuous rain forecast for the states of Sabah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor following the current monsoon surge which is expected to continue until Jan 3 next year.

In the latest statement today, it said the continuous rain is expected to occur over Tawau, Sandakan and Kudat in Sabah starting today until Jan 2.

Continuous rain is also expected to occur all over Terengganu and several areas in Kelantan namely Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang, Pasir Puteh and Kuala Krai from Dec 30 until Jan 1, 2022.

In Pahang, among the areas to experience continuous rain are Jerantut, Maran, Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin; while in Johor, the district of Mersing.

According to MetMalaysia, the monsoon surge is expected to bring continuous rain strong winds that can cause floods in low-lying areas.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — The numbers of flood victims in four states, namely Pahang, Selangor, Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan, have declined this evening, while there has been no change in Melaka.

According to the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) Disaster Info application, there were 16,281 individuals from 5,207 families housed at 107 relief centres in the five states as of this evening.

The number has decreased from the 19,099 people from 5,882 families involving 120 relief centres recorded this afternoon.

In PAHANG, a total of 10,735 victims were still housed in 76 relief centres this evening, compared to 11,776 in 83 centres this afternoon, with areas in Bentong, Temerloh, Bera, Maran, Kuantan and Pekan still affected by floods.

Meanwhile, Pahang Health director Datuk Dr Nor Azimi Yunus informed that 42 mental health and psychosocial support teams comprising doctors, counselors and nurses were set up to deal with emotional disorders among flood victims.

In SELANGOR, the number of flood victims decreased to 5,399 in 27 relief centres this evening, compared to 7,503 victims in 36 centres in the afternoon.

However, according to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage’s (JPS) official flood information portal, the water level at Sungai Bernam in Rimba KDR, Sabak Bernam, which was at the alert level this afternoon, had reached the warning level as of 5.15 this afternoon.

In KELANTAN, the number of flood victims decreased to 68 people from 21 families as of 5 pm today, compared to 78 people from 23 families this afternoon, involving one relief centre, namely SK Tok Deh.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, the number of victims reduced slightly this evening to 53 people from 17 families, who were still housed in two relief centres in Jelebu.

In MELAKA, Melaka Civil Defence Force director Lt Col (PA) Cuthbert John Martin Quadra said the number of flood victims remained unchanged at 26 people from eight families as of 4 pm today, with all of them housed at SK Penghulu Benteng in Jasin.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

IPOH, Dec 28 — Perak has detected the second case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the state, involving an individual who returned home after performing the umrah pilgrimage.

State Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin said the individual tested positive while undergoing quarantine at home.

“The case is under control. The screening test on close contacts turned out to be negative. However, further observation and monitoring will still be done,” he told reporters after closing the state-level National Environment Day celebration today.

On Dec 3, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced the first case of the Omicron variant involving a female student who arrived from South Africa. She was confirmed positive for the variant of concern on Dec 2.

Meanwhile, Mohd Akmal urged umrah pilgrims to comply with the seven-day quarantine order to prevent the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

“The government allows them to undergo quarantine at home to save cost. So, please comply (with the requirement). However, there were reports that some of them were receiving guests at home and some even spend time with their families.

“Please isolate yourself at home, we are worried that it (COVID-19) will spread,” he said, adding that umrah pilgrims who tested positive for the Omicron variant will be given a digital tracking wristband.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency