Civil servants who could not begin their duties when they were trapped in flood-affected areas recently will be given some leeway to take disaster leave.

Public Service Department (JPA) Director General Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal said the department was updating the actual number of civil servants who were facing the problem.

"We know there were many civil servants who returned to their hometowns for the holidays and could not come back as scheduled because some roads were submerged, in fact, some of the civil servants became flood victims.

"They need to inform their respective department heads and must return to work as normal when the situation permits, while those civil servants joining the post-flood humanitarian aid mission would be given special leave by the JPA," he said.

Mohamad Zabidi disclosed this to reporters after handing over contributions and derivative benefits to the family of the late Mohmad (repeat-Mohmad) Yusof Awang Noh at Kampung Durian Mentangau, here today.

At the function, he also presented financial aid and basic necessities contributed by JPA4U volunteers to the family.

The late Mohmad Yusof, who was a gardener at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Durian Mentangau, died on Jan 1 while cleaning the school which was affected by the floods at the end of last year.

During his working visit to Terengganu today, he also visited the families of two civil servants who died during the recent floods namely the late Norhayati Sulong at Taman Geliga Intan, and the late Mat Zaik Mohd Yusof at Felda Seberang Tayor, Kemaman.