Smart Team to help PWD at landslide location - Shahidan

The Special Malaysian Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart Team) will help the Public Works Department (PWD) to monitor and restore the situation following the landslide near Teratai Apartments, Taman Bunga Raya, here.

National Security Council (MKN) chairman, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said 15 members of the team would be sent today to work with the PWD.

"We will help the PWD with equipment and safety measures so that both parties can do the job and solve the problem fast.

"We not only want to ensure that the people are safe, but also the safety of the teams there, including the experts from PWD who are involved in investigating the incident," he told reporters after visiting the affected residents housed at Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Bunga Raya 2, here, tonight.

Some 500 residents from 158 families in two blocks of apartments are affected by the landslide which occured at about 10am yesterday.

They have been placed at three temporary shelters - Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Bunga Raya 2, Sekolah Menengah Taman Bunga Raya 1 and Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Bunga Raya 1.

Shahidan said MKN would ensure all their needs were cared for.

"In times like this, we need to join forces to look after the welfare of the residents," he said.

Earlier, Puteri Umno vice-chief Zahida Zarik Khan handed out essential items to the victims of the landslide.

She said 500 bags of essential items like disposable diapers, sanitary pads, milk, used clothes and foodstuff were given to the residents at the shelters.