KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 – The country will ensure an optimum level of preparation to face possible flood situations during the year-end monsoon season ahead, the Dewan Rakyat was informed today.
Answering a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Samarahan, Hajah Rubiah Haji Awang (GPS – PBB), Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mastura Mohd Yazid said preparations were underway to ensure that the capacities of all district level flood disaster management committees are at optimum level to handle any possible flood scenarios while precautions and measures will continue to be put in place by the national bodies monitoring and handling floods.
The government’s Chief of Secretary who heads the Flood Management Task Force will be holding regular meetings to ensure the preparedness of the district flood management committees, Mastura said during the morning session of the 3rd meeting of the 5th session of the 14th Parliament 2022.
More than 76,000 officers have been deployed and are at standby at various levels of operations in the event of any flood situation during the monsoon period, she said.
More than 22,000 equipment and assets for operations on land, water and air have been also positioned for the same purpose. These also cover equipment for medical purposes, she said.
In terms of surveillance and monitoring, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage has also take several measures including putting in place more than 1,000 flood telemetry stations, mobile water pump machines nationwide, she said.
Allocations of RM50,000 in funds have been also channeled to the various district flood committees, and another RM100,000 for each of the eight monitoring agencies, while NADMA (National Disaster Management Agency) has set aside allocation for the purchase of two flood patrol boats for each district.
Allocations have been also put aside by the Welfare Department for the set up of over 6,000 flood relief centres nationwide, where more than one million and 600,000 victims are expected to be housed temporarily in the event of floods.
The department has also set up depots nationwide for the storage of essential items for the flood victims, she said, adding that areas with high risk of cut-off from access will also be equipped with storage facilities to ensure that they have enough supply of essential items during the period.
To an additional question from Rubiah on whether flood victims in Sarawak will be given the same assistance, Mastura replied that all forms of assistance announced including assistance for rebuilding victims’ homes and other cash aids will be given to all flood victims.
–WE
.