KUALA LUMPUR – The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) today arranged for an EC725 AP helicopter from its 10th Squadron to have food supplies and basic necessities delivered to flood victims in two areas in Jerantut, Pahang.
The RMAF in a statement said in the operation, one tonne of food supplies from the Social Welfare Department was flown to Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Bantal and Orang Asli settlements around the district.
“The aircraft and crew departed from Kuantan Air Base at 2 pm and returned safely after completing the assignment at 4.45 pm.
“The helicopter was manned by Maj Muhammad Uwais Md Zain, who was assisted by co-pilot Capt Azfar Adzahar and air quartermasters, FSjn Suhaimi Othman and FSjn Mohd Zulhilmi Samad,” said the statement.
According to the Social Welfare Department (JKM) Disaster Info portal as of 8.30pm today, a total of 26 relief centres are operating in the district to provide shelter to 1,493 flood victims from 395 families.
Assisted with funeral
The Fire and Rescue Department personnel today meanwhile helped bring the remains of a senior citizen to the Kampung Desa Baru Purun Muslim Cemetery for burial.
The remains of Majid Abu Bakar, 84, were ferried to the mosque and also to the cemetery by the Temerloh Fire and Rescue Station personnel after his nephew Mohd Nadzri Mat Amin, 39, contacted the district flood operations control centre for assistance.
Majid died of old age at his home last night.
Speaking to Bernama, Mohd Nadzri said that their village had been flooded since Monday and he was worried that the fibre boats used by the residents to cross the flood were too small to carry his uncle’s remains.
“While making preparations, the fire and rescue department contacted me saying that that they would wait at the flood site to bring my uncle’s remains to the mosque before going to the cemetery,” he said.
Mohd Nadzri said the firefighters arrived around 12 noon and his uncle was laid to rest after Zohor prayers.
Meanwhile, Temerloh Fire and Rescue station chief Syed Moshen T Ismail said that the route to the cemetery was under four metres of floodwaters for about one kilometre.
Exceeded allocation
The Pahang government has spent RM1 million per day to assist flood victims in the state, exceeding the amount allocated for the 2020/2021 monsoon season.
State Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak said the existing allocation was RM4 million, but it has to be increased as the floods have prolonged involving a large number of victims.
“To date, the state government had spent almost RM8 million with additional allocation approved at the State Executive Council meeting yesterday, so as to enable the flood victims to receive proper assistance.
“Among the factors to increase the allocation is the different flood trend, because areas which have never been hit with flood before were also affected this time, as well as other disasters such as landslide and collapsed bridges, causing the people to be stranded.
“It is also learned that the amount of rainfall since last Sunday was equal to a year’s record, causing rivers to overflow and making the floods even worse,” he told Bernama after handing over assistance in Kuala Tahan via the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Air Unit here, today.
