350 Kelantan JKM personnel on standby for monsoon flood

KOTA BHARU: A total of 350 personnel, including officers, of the Kelantan Social Welfare Department (JKM) are on standby and ready to be mobilized at any time, in the eventuality of floods during the Northeast Monsoon season this year.

State Welfare, Family Development and Women's Committee chairman Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi said the JKM personnel would also be assisted by 368 registered volunteers, in 10 districts in Kelantan.

There are 88 registered volunteers in Pasir Puteh, Kota Bharu (42), Jeli (40), Tanah Merah (37), Kuala Krai (31), Pasir Mas (30), Machang (30), Tumpat (27), Gua Musang (25) and Bachok (18), she said when contacted by Bernama.

She said 13 psychological officers and 183 psychological support teams (PST) were also on standby to provide guidance and counseling to victims in need.

"We have received RM1 million from the federal government and RM300,000 from the state government for the purchase of basic necessities," she said.

Prior to this, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said 442 temporary evacuation centers (PPS), which are capable of accommodating 170,180 flood victims, had been identified in preparation for this year's flood.

-- BERNAMA