Food supplies adequate for flood victims - Shahidan

Crucial food supplies were rushed in boats and helicopters to areas cut off by flood waters, especially several locations in Kuala Krai, 73 km from here, following improved weather, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

He said transportation assets belonging to several agencies, including the Malaysian Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department, Department of Civil Defence and Royal Malaysian Police, were used for the purpose.

"We used boats and helicopters to reach several areas which had run out of food and were inaccessible by land. With the improving weather, we have sent food to stranded victims, including at several locations in Kuala Krai.

"The government gives its assurance that there are adequate food supplies as well as assets to send them to flood victims," he told reporters here last night.

He said the food supplies were procured from states not affected by floods as well as Kuala Lumpur.

"The supplies were transported to Kelantan by land, via the Kuala Lipis-Gua Musang route.

"We are resorting to using helicopters to send food supplies to areas to which the land routes are cut off by floods," he said.

Shahidan advised the people to adhere to the directives of the authorities concerned and evacuate quickly before the situation worsened and complicated rescue efforts.

He also advised them against disseminating false information on the disaster as it would make things difficult for everybody, including the rescue teams.

As of this morning, more than 32,000 people had been moved to 163 relief centres in nine districts in Kelantan. The second wave of floods this year struck the state on Dec 16.