Year: 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — Athough the incessant rain has stopped as of noon today, the number of flood victims in Selangor and Pahang continued to increase, with more than 61,000 people evacuated to relief centres (PPS).

Perak and Negeri Sembilan also recorded an increase in the number of evacuees, but it did not hit the 1,000th mark.

However, the situation in Kelantan, Terengganu and Melaka was improving with a drop in the number of flood victims recorded.

In SELANGOR, a total of 32,044 evacuees have been placed in 162 PPS in nine districts, in the state as of 10am.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, in a post on his official Twitter informed that the Klang district recorded the highest number of evacuees with 18,858 people.

In PAHANG, the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) InfoBencana application reported that 9,181 people from 7,738 families were currently seeking shelter at 242 PPS, with the affected districts bein Bentong, Raub, Lipis, Jerantut, Temerloh, Bera, Maran, Kuantan and Pekan.

Lebuh Raya Pantai Timur’s Facebook page informed that food was being delivered to victims who were stranded in areas along the East Coast Expressway and the strecth at KM76-KM126 Karak-Temerloh was still closed on both sides.

The number of flood victims in PERAK increased to 254 people as of 1.30pm, compared to 242 people this morning and all of them were housed at three PPS, according to a spokesman for the State Civil Defence Force (APM) and the State Disaster Management Secretariat.

A Bernama check in Teluk Intan found that floodwaters in several affected villages had not receded yet and residents were seen returning to their homes to take their personal documents to be brought to PPS.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, State APM director Lt Col (PA) Mohd Syukri Madnor, in a statement, said the number flood victims, including in Seremban and Port Dickson, rose to 605 individuals from 145 families with 10 PPS opened as at noon.

Meanwhile, KELANTAN saw a drop in the number of evacuees, to 3,659 people from 1,079 families from 3,801 people involving 1,098 families this morning.

Kelantan State APM Disaster Management and Operation secretariat Zainuddin Hussin said 40 PPS have been opened, namely 24 in Kuala Krai, Pasir Mas (8), Gua Musang (5), Tanah Merah (2) and Jeli (1).

The number of flood victims in TERENGGANU also dropped to 158 people from 38 families this afternoon compared to 288 people from 68 families in the morning.

The State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, in a statement, informed that Kemaman was the only district currently hit by the floods with six PPS operating after two centres in Dungun were closed.

In MELAKA, State APM Director Lt Col (PA) Cuthbert John Martin said the number of flood victims had dropped to 718 people from 158 families compared to 826 people from 183 families this morning.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 20 — MyLESEN Goods Driving Licence 2.0 (GDL 2.0), a programme aimed at helping logistics and transport companies address driver shortages, is offering job opportunities for 700 Malaysians to qualify as professional movers.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, in a statement today, said the Road Transport Department (RTD) under the Transport Ministry had begun registrations for the GDL 2.0.

He said registration for the initiative is open until Dec 31 for Malaysians aged 21 and above who possess Class D or E Competent Driving License (CDL), adding that the candidates must not be blacklisted by the courts, RTD or police.

“The government will subsidise candidates in taking their E Full and Articulated GDL (Bersendi) to enable them to take up vacancies in the logistics industry upon completion,” he said, adding that candidates would also receive a one-off allowance of RM500.

Wee said driving courses would be held in selected qualified driving schools nationwide.

Interested candidates can register at https://forms.gle/S6ryiJcaXaiFsJLz7 (for companies) and https://forms.gle/hTvePaM6bTesTxdE8 (for individuals).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Dec 20 — The Johor government today dispatched a team of its Southern Volunteers (SV) to help flood victims in Hulu Langat, Selangor.

Johor Deputy State Secretary, On Jabbar said the aid mission was in line with the decree of Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim who wanted the volunteer team to help ease the burden of the victims in the area.

“SV is very responsive to Tunku Mahkota Johor’s decree yesterday, and today we are deploying 37 volunteers there and this is the first phase of assistance. For the second phase, we will discuss the need for clean-up work.

“The items brought include disposable diapers for adults and children, sanitary napkins, mineral water, biscuits and bread with a total value of about RM50,000. All will be sent to the Hulu Langat district officer,” he said.

On, who is also the head of the Southern Volunteers Flood Relief Mission Contingent to Hulu Langat, said this to reporters after flagging off the mission at his office here.

Meanwhile, an SV volunteer, Chong Khai Siang, 36, said he was very sympathetic over the flood disasters that occurred in several states including Selangor and although his family was worried about his safety, he was more worried about the safety of the flood victims.

“This is the first time I am involved in a large-scale flood relief mission and it really touches my heart. I still want to go and extend help because they really need our help,” said the entrepreneur from Johor Bahru.

As for another volunteer, M. Sivamani, 43, the aid mission is very important in creating a sense of responsibility and an attitude of helping regardless of race and religion.

“SV always helps and provides assistance to people and this time I am overwhelmed to be able to help them in Hulu Langat. Although it is not my first time but this is a big disaster, so it is very touching,” he said.

Yesterday, Tunku Ismail had instructed SV to be ready to serve in the six states affected by the current flood disaster in the country.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Dec 20 –The Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) has channelled RM3.35 million to facilitate the whitening process of maahad tahfiz (religious schools) under the Zakat Selangor Cares (ZSP) initiative.

LZS chief executive officer Saipolyazan M Yusop said the contribution was to assist 350 maahad tahfiz under Persatuan Institusi Tahfiz Al-Quran Selangor (PITAS) in need of financial aid to cover the cost of preparing Planning Permission and Building Plan documents and related fees.

“This contribution under ZSP can ease the burden of the involved maahad tahfiz so that they can operate as stipulated in the Selangor Private Religious Schools (Tahfiz institutions) Whitening Guidelines,” he said at a press conference, here today.

Saipolyazan said on July 2 this year, LZS announced an allocation of RM69.3 million under ZSP to be channelled in a targeted manner to the asnaf (tithe recipients) and B40 groups as well institutions affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said there are 19 aid initiatives under ZSP to benefit 59,322 recipients and 431 institutions in Selangor.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PASIR MAS, Dec 20 — About 300 residents from 58 families in Kampung Tersang, Rantau Panjang, here did not expect a major flood to occur in their village this year.

Many villagers when met said despite living less than 50 metres from Sungai Golok, the flood this time is described as unusual when water rose about three meters.

A senior citizen who has been living the longest in the village, Yah Umat, 78, said the flood this time was historic to her when the village was flooded in the past few days.

“I have been living in this village for more than 50 years, and this is the first time, I have seen such an major flood. The flood was never three meters deep and swift which submerged the village road which is located on high ground.

“Before this, floodwaters would usually enter certain areas in the house, but this time the water was up to chest level,” she said when met by reporters here today.

Following this, Yah said she is moving to a safer site for fear such floods would occur again in bad weather with water overflowing from the upstream of the river.

“I am sad to leave the house but my life is more important as I decided to shift with my children’s help. Luckily, they helped me to relocate using a boat,” she said.

Another resident, Din Abdul Rahman, 57, said even though it was normal to flood each year, but the disaster this time appeared very different.

“It’s true houses near Sungai Golok are inundated whenever there is a flood, but this year’s experience gave us the shivers.

“What happened today is considered a record as water has never been this deep and swift. Many are shifting to other safer places for fear of their safety in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, an observation, found members of the 7th Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF7) assisting villagers to move to a temporary relief centre (PPS) using four-wheel drives.

Kampung Tersang is among the areas which is frequently flooded and it usually takes a long time to subside following the stagnated flood phenomenon

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BENTONG, Dec 20 — The bodies of a man and two women, believed to be victims of the mud flood incident in Telemong, here, on Saturday were found today.

Fire and Rescue Department operations officer Mohd Sufian Yakob said the first body was found by the rescue team at 1pm, while the bodies of the two women were recovered at 1.20pm and 2pm respectively.

He said the bodies were found about two to 5 kilometres from the spot they were reported missing aftery being swept away by strong currents following the incident.

He added that the search and rescue operation was launched at 9 am today and covered an estimated radius of five kilometres.

Yesterday, Bentong District Police chief Supt Zaiham Mohd Kahar confirmed that they had received reports regarding the disappearance of five people in an incident at a village in Telemong.

Earlier, Telemong Volunteer Fire Brigade chairman Lai Wah Foong said the route to enter the scene was impassable following the landslide along the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Dec 20 — More residents in flood-hit Taman Sri Muda in Section 25 here were rescued today as sunny skies brought further respite and floodwaters began to recede.

Bernama spotted residents venturing out for the first time since floods ravaged their homes as the water level dropped further which allowed them to safely wade their way out.

However, not everyone was that fortunate as floodwaters in some areas appeared to be stagnant and remained at chest level, prompting efforts to rescue stranded victims or for those stuck on the upper floors, basic necessities to be delivered to them by boat.

Khairol Norman Abdul Manap, 35, said he could not bear watching the dire situation in Taman Sri Muda from the comforts of his home in Kuala Selangor and decided that he wanted to be part of the rescue operations.

Borrowing four of his employer’s boats, he and a friend headed to Shah Alam and used them to rescue as many flood victims as they could, senior citizens, children and the sickly in particular.

“Alhamdulillah, we have made at least 40 trips to rescue stranded victims since 7 pm yesterday.

“Yes, it’s tiring, but there is always a sense of relief when you get to help and rescue those in trouble,” he told Bernama here today.

Ahmad Fadhil Zafri, 38, from D’ Kayangan in Section 13 here said residents from his housing area bandied together to distribute food to the Taman Sri Muda victims today.

“We knew that they have had no food supplies in the past few days so we try to help as much as we can,” he said.

Bernama checks also found that a lot of aid was being channelled by security forces and non-governmental organisations to the rescue base at the Taman Sri Muda bridge.

For Taman Sri Muda resident Mohd Shahrin Redzuan Mohd Roslan, 27, the flood that hit his housing area is the worst experienced in 10 years, made even worse when residents lost electricity supply and telecommunication network coverage.

Recalling his own nightmarish experience, he said floodwaters inundated the ground floor of his house very quickly, forcing his family to flee upstairs.

“Both our cars also went underwater. It was the same in most areas of Taman Sri Muda,” he said.

As for S. Suresh Kumar, 23, the flood this time around was a ‘nightmare’ not easily forgotten.

He said the family went through anxious moments, especially as his brother was epileptic and had a strict medication regime to follow.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency