ALOR SETAR – The Kedah government will expedite repairs of damaged infrastructures due to the floods in several districts in the state after an assessment of the damages has been completed.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the district offices of Baling, Padang Terap and Pokok Sena are now assessing the damages in the floods and initial evaluation found most of the affected facilities were in Baling district.
“I have discussed with the State Financial Officer. We will expedite the process of repairing (federal government) infrastructure under the responsibility of the state government which was damaged in the floods.
“For example, the Public Works Department (PWD) and Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) have a joint list. Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA) is also looking at burst pipes, and will take immediate action.
“There are also damaged wooden bridges and (concrete) bridges. I understand some long wooden bridges will incur high costs,” he said.
He was speaking at a media conference after closing an online exhibition programme #MyDigitalMaker “MaiReka” 2021 at Wisma Darul Aman here today. Also present was the State Information, Communications and Multimedia, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Wan Romani Wan Salim.
For the record, 446 flood victims from 139 families were housed at 10 relief centres (PPS) in the Baling, Pendang and Pokok Sena districts in the recent disaster.
Muhammad Sanusi said the flood in the Pendang district did not cause much damage but the residents in the surrounding areas were cut off for several days.
On the factors contributing to the floods in the districts concerned, he said the reports received to date pointed to the heavy rain and not due to the drainage system or other factors.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said the state government was prepared to face any possibility that was expected to take place during the northeast monsoon from November.
In addition, he said the people of Kedah must also take precautionary measures over the high tide phenomenon which is expected to take place from November 4 especially those staying close to the sea and river estuaries.More than 10,000 police personnel who will be on duty in the state elections in Melaka and the Sarawak state polls expected to be held soon, will be given priority to receive COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, says Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim.
He said although there had been no directives on the matter, the police had made an application to the Ministry of Health (MOH) for the purpose on Oct 26.
“For this booster dose, we will focus on personnel in contingents where state elections are expected to be held first,” he told reporters after the handover ceremony of 23 Toyota Hilux GS Cargo vehicles and 11 Go Auto Higer Ace vans at the Kelantan police headquarters here today.
Also present were Kelantan police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat and his deputy, Datuk Muhammad Zaki Harun, GO Auto Group executive director Datuk SM Azli Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, and Bukit Aman Logistics Department principal assistant director of transport, SAC Adnan Ahmad.
Commenting further, Mazlan said the dose was important for personnel working in the field, as they would have to face various situations while on duty.
He said there were about 3,700 personnel in Melaka and 7,000 in Sarawak at present.
“Nationwide, there are more than 120,000 personnel. Currently, we are still waiting for a decision from the MOH on the vaccine, and will wait to see if there are further instructions.
Commenting on the handing over of vehicles today, Mazlan said 400 such vehicles were handed over to various contingents nationwide, at a cost of RM62,784,600, which included training.
