NGO, volunteers wishing to help during floods urged to register

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the state government welcomed quarters intending to help flood victims and their registration would facilitate PKOB and other authorities to coordinate relief efforts.

"It will also avoid waste or manpower and energy as had happened before, where there were two or three groups of volunteers after the handing over of flood contributions from PETRONAS to the state government at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.

Present at the event were PETRONAS East Coast general manager M Ahmad Shazly Ramli, State Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak and Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Pahang director Col (PA) Che Adam A Rahman.

On the state's flood preparations, Wan Rosdy, said the government had approved an allocation of RM47 million to improve the efficiency of flood management.

He said they included identifying suitable landing sites, especially in areas that are often cut off due to floods, including in Orang Asli villages, so that food supplies and other aid can be sent to them.

"We have also built permanent evacuation centres (PPS) in Maran, Pekan and Lipis, in addition to buying boats that will be stationed at the penghulu's office and have also conducted special courses on disaster management," he said.

Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy thanked PETRONAS for the contributions, which included two boats, tents, raincoats and life jackets.

According to Ahmad Shazly, the contributions were part of PETRONAS' commitment to help flood victims involving an allocation of RM25 million that was announced in December last year.

He said PETRONAS had also organised a Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Programme (CBDRM) for residents in Mukim Ganchong in Pekan, near here and the islets off Tumpat in Kelantan this year to help them make more systematic preparations for the floods.