GUA MUSANG: The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) today began sending 21 tonnes of food supply for 1,400 Orang Asli families in several posts here.

The aid was sent to the Orang Asli settlements, including Pos Gob, Pos Belatim, Pos Bihai, Pos Balar and surrounding villages, using the Mi-17-IV helicopter after the logging roads were severely damaged due to heavy rain.

Nenggiri assemblyman Ab Aziz Yusoff said the service of the JBPM Air Unit was needed because the villages were no longer accessible via land routes.

"When the roads were cut off, the Orang Asli community ran out of food supplies because their tuber crops were also damaged by elephants.

"Today, we will deliver food supplies to the most remote villages, namely Kampung Gawin involving 43 families and then to Kampung Gob which has 144 families," he told reporters today.



HELICOPTER-ORANG ASLI 2 (LAST) GUA MUSANG



Ab Aziz said if the weather permits, the team will continue sending food supplies to Kampung Simpor and Kampung Jader which have a total of 232 families.

"It is hoped that the food aid, which includes rice, sugar, biscuits, sardines and wheat flour, will be able to meet their needs while waiting for the weather to improve," he said.

Meanwhile, Senior Assistant Superintendent Mohd Azuna Mohamed Sabri said all nine crews had been involved in a flood relief mission in Wakaf Tapai, Terengganu since last week before arriving in Gua Musang to deliver aid in this district.

"The delivery of food supplies to the Orang Asli settlements will take at least five days to complete. We planned to start yesterday, but because of the bad weather, we can only fly out today," he said.

-- BERNAMA