Kedah gov't considering initiatives to redevelop flood-hit Yan district

YAN: The Kedah government will hold meetings with the secretaries-general of several ministries to seek the best initiatives to redevelop the Yan district that has been badly affected by Wednesday's floods.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said that, for a start, he would hold discussions with the secretary-general of the Environment and Water Ministry tonight on the aspect of irrigation and drainage.

"Under KASA, there is the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and other specific agencies relating to irrigation and drainage as (the incident) involved a water source from Gunung Jerai.

"We want to ask the ministry to fix the broken drainage at Titi Hayun (Recreational Park), we hope the ministry will consider providing some allocations," he told reporters during a visit to the residence of Sharuzi Mohamad, 53, who was found dead at the landslide in Gunung Jerai yesterday.

He presented the RM2,000 funeral benefit from the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to the victim's wife, Ranida Ahmad, 47, which will be paid periodically throughout her lifetime.

SANUSI-FLOOD (SEC-GEN) 2 (LAST) YAN

Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said following the declaration of Yan as a Level One Disaster Area by the National Security Council, the government could spend allocations to redevelop the district according to certain conditions.

"Although there is nothing in the agency and government budget, once it's declared a disaster area, you can spend... the district officer will make a full report about the damage and total costs and we will deal with state and federal departments to repair the damage caused by the incident," he said.

In the 5 pm incident on Wednesday, landslides and floods occurred in several areas around Gunung Jerai due to water surges from the mountain peak.

As of this evening, four victims were found dead, while many residences, including several schools, were damaged after being covered by thick mud.

-- BERNAMA