Floods: Kelantan victims praise government initiatives to help

KOTA BHARU: Flood victims in Kelantan say that they welcome the government’s initiatives to combat the problems leading to flooding in the state and express hope that all projects announced would be implemented smoothly.

Suraidah Ahmad, 42, an evacuee at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Lati flood relief centre (PPS), said the government’s efforts would ease the burden of the people living in flood-prone areas.

“It is a tiring experience to face floods as we have to be evacuated to a PPS and then do the cleaning up at home after the waters have subsided. We also suffer losses due to damaged equipment and the like. The government’s decision today to speed up several flood mitigation projects is most appropriate,” she said.

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Mohd Suhaldi Omar, 50, from Kampung Keroh, Kuala Krai hoped that agencies would make the best use of the projects and allocations given by the government to overcome the flood problem speedily.

“We do not want any delays to the projects announced by the government. For the sake of the people, the projects should be delivered as promised. Flooding is an annual occurrence in Kelantan, so it is important for all quarters to pool their resources and set aside political differences,” he said.

Another villager, Mohd Hirwan Rajiuo, 42, of Kampung Tersang, welcomed the RM50 million aid for flood victims in Kelantan which was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Mohd Hirwan called for better monitoring of the aid distribution to ensure all those eligible would get help.

“Since November this year, my family has been evacuated three times due to floods. I hope federal government agencies would play a more effective role in monitoring the aid distribution,” said Mohd Hirwan, who claimed he missed out RM1,000 in aid early this year.

Anwar, during a visit to assess the flood situation in Kelantan on Thursday (Dec 28), announced an initial allocation of RM50 million for flood victims in Kelantan affected by the third wave of the disaster since November.

He also approved an immediate allocation of RM6 million to construct a temporary embankment, including the spillway structure for the Sungai Golok Integrated River Basin Development Project to solve the problem of stagnant floodwaters in Rantau Panjang. – BK