Day: January 5, 2022

PASIR MAS, Jan 5 — The role of the Rukun Tetangga Community (KRT) will be empowered as first responders during operations before, during and after floods, Deputy National Unity Minister Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

He said the Rukun Tetangga could also act by providing initial reminders to residents when residents when floods happen.

“Currently we have over 8,000 Rukun Tetangga members who are active nationwide and they actually are first responders and frontliners, and play their part by providing early reminders to residents.

“We learnt from our recent experience, we can see the role of the Rukun Tentangga, they were mobilised to Selangor, Pahang and other flood-affected states to help clean houses of victims and dispose of flood-damaged items,” he told reporters after presenting aid from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) Armada in Kampung Serongga here today.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal was representing Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to donate necessities and food provisions to residents in Rantau Panjang, Jeli, and Tanah Merah who were affected by the recent floods under the 2021 Flood Victims Assistance Fund.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, who is also Armada chief, said 5,000 youths from the party were mobilised throughout the country to assist in post-flood recovery efforts in several states.

Besides helping clean up the houses of those affected, they also guided senior citizens who were unfamiliar with the application process for the RM1,000 Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) financial assistance.

“We will mobilise to help those who were not registered at relief centres to get the aid, because many, especially senior citizens, do not know the application procedures.

“We plan to identify those affected by floods but did not evacuate to relief centres this week, and will obtain the information from village chiefs and other community leaders,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 — Fifty-four deaths due to floods have been recorded across the country so far, while two other victims are still unaccounted for, Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA) director Datuk Hazani Ghazali said.

He said the state with the highest death toll was recorded by Selangor at 25, followed by Pahang (21), Kelantan (four), Sabah (three) and Negeri Sembilan (one).

A total of 13,322 flood victims were recorded nationwide as of noon today.

“Seven states were hit by the floods and 172 temporary relief centres (PPS) are still fully operational,” he told a special press conference at Bukit Aman here today.

On the floods in Segamat, Johor, Hazani said four villages in the district were cut off by floods today but the situation was still under control.

“The four villages are Kampung Lubuk Lanjut, Kampung Batu 10, Kampung Budu and Kampung Spang Loi.

“The flood situation in Segamat is still under control. The relief mission is still ongoing using a helicopter to help the residents in the villages,” he said.

Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani has instructed the KDNKA to coordinate the distribution of all forms of assistance to ensure the welfare of the residents remained intact.

It includes using a helicopter to send essential supplies to the residents in areas where roads were closed due to the floods.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, Jan 5 — The implementation period of the Malaysian Family Maximum Price Scheme (SHMKM) since Dec 7, 2021 which has been extended until Feb 4, coincides with the flood disaster recovery phase which can reduce costs of consumer expenditure, said Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Rosol Wahid.

“At the same time, consumers can enjoy the retail price of daily necessities at a stable and controlled level as long as the scheme is enforced,” he said in a statement today.

The implementation of the scheme involves a total of 12 types of goods comprising categories of chicken, chicken eggs and vegetables that have been determined as price-controlled items.

He said that as of yesterday, 31,520 premises comprising 644 wholesale and 30,876 retail premises nationwide had been inspected by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).

As a result of the inspection, he said 100 cases were detected, namely 76 cases for the offence of failing to use a special price tag, 14 cases without a price tag and 10 cases for selling above the maximum price involving a compound value of RM21,300.

Meanwhile, at the Selangor level until yesterday, SHMKM inspected a total of 1,905 premises (12 wholesale and 1,893 retail) with six cases recorded involving four offences of failing to use special price tags and two offences of selling above the maximum price.

He said KPDNHEP consistently mobilised a total of 2,200 enforcers nationwide to monitor SHMKM enforcement compliance.

Rosol today conducted a survey and compliance inspection of the scheme at the Jalan Meru Central Market Complex, Klang and AEON Mall Bukit Raja Supermarket, Klang, together with the Selangor KPDNHEP enforcement team.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA MARUDU, Jan 5 — The Sabah government would consider a proposal to build special permanent relief centres (PPS), especially in the state’s flood-prone areas, said Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor.

He said the proposal should be given attention as some districts that were often hit by floods faced the problem of lack of PPS to accommodate all victims of the disaster.

“If this (special PPS) is the main requirement each time there is a flood, then the government will consider the proposal as there are not enough or no temporary relief centres (in the flood-affected areas),” he told reporters after handing out food baskets and RM1,000 in compassionate cash aid to heads of the flood-affected households, here, today.

He was asked to comment on the suggestion made by some elected representatives in the flood-affected districts on the need to build special PPS as their existing number is insufficient, apart from easing the management of flood victims.

Hajiji also urged all the relevant departments such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Public Works Department and the local authorities in Sabah to make comprehensive plans to reduce the impact and implications of flood disasters in the future by taking into account the aspect of flood mitigation.

“This includes plans to deepen the rivers as well as maintaining the irrigation and drainage infrastructure such as drains that are clogged in each affected district,” he added.

On a related development, Hajiji also asked the management committee of the respective district Disaster Operations Control Centres (PKOB) to assess the damage to basic facilities such as bridges and houses.

Hajiji said the government would also channel RM5,000 in aid to repair the damaged houses, as well as several other financial assistance including for the purchase of basic necessities and to repair damaged vehicles, besides the RM1,000 cash assistance to all heads of household affected by the floods.

“Assistance to victims who suffer damage to their houses will be given after the assessment reports are submitted by the district officer as the chairman of the PKOB committee. The damage assessment is being done,” he added.

Hajiji also expressed appreciation and gratitude for the cooperation given by the departments and agencies involved in ensuring efficient flood management including the rescue operations and in providing for the needs of victims at each PPS.

Meanwhile, an aerial inspection by Bernama found that the flood situation in Pitas and Kota Marudu had improved with the flood waters starting to subside, apart from the clear weather in the morning and afternoon.

The continuous heavy rain since last week has resulted in Pitas, Kota Marudu, Paitan, Telupid, Beluran and Sandakan being hit by floods.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency