Nadma chief: We’re working together

PETALING JAYA: The Federal Government’s allocations for flood management in affected states depend on the severity and their actual needs, says National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus.

As of yesterday, Nadma has disbursed RM50mil each to Kelantan and Terengganu to help their state governments handle the floods, he said.

“The Federal Government has allocated an initial RM300mil to Nadma for flood management during the current monsoon season,” he added.

Khairul said Nadma, representing the Federal Government, was working fully with the state governments of Kelantan and Terengganu.

He also said the Kelantan and Terengganu governments were currently managing the situation, despite some areas such as Rantau Panjang being very critical, through their disaster management committees chaired by their respective state secretaries.

“Nadma has a daily briefing session with both states to assess their needs.

“So far, based on these daily briefings, the situation is still manageable at the state level,” said Khairul, who has also been on the ground a few times to see things for himself.

Inundated: A car is seen submerged after the floods in Kuala Berang, Terengganu. — BK

He added that as a national agency, Nadma’s priority was to help flood victims without bothering about borders or political affiliations.

He also noted that based on the latest weather forecast, the situation was expected to improve.

“So far, resources are sufficient to meet current needs at evacuation centres and for search-and-rescue efforts.

“Nadma is also working with a number of NGOs to ensure the distribution of assistance is better coordinated,” he said.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, when contacted, said he has directed the Armed Forces to deploy their resources and manpower to help out in the affected states.

His ministry, through Ops Murni led by the Armed Forces, has deployed 995 officers and 16,094 personnel of other ranks from all branches – the army, navy, and air force – nationwide to the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, among others.

The Armed Forces had previously received RM100,000 from Nadma for the procurement needs of Ops Murni in its current operations and the post-flood phase, said Mohamed Khaled.

He added that the use of Armed Forces personnel is being coordinated at the local disaster operations control centres with Nadma and other agencies.

“When mobilised, Armed Forces personnel would provide search-and-rescue assistance, transportation and relocation services, medical services, field engineering tasks, multi-logistics support, and post-flood assistance.

“As of 8am yesterday, the floods have affected 24 districts in six states namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, Sabah, and Johor.

“Among the affected districts, eight are in Kelantan – Pasir Mas, Jeli, Gua Musang, Tanah Merah, Machang, Kuala Krai, Kota Baru, and Pasir Puteh,” he said.

He added that Terengganu has seven affected districts (Marang, Dungun, Setiu, Hulu Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, and Besut); while Pahang has five (Kemaman, Raub, Lipis, Kuantan, and Jerantut).

The affected district in Selangor was Kuala Langat.

Mohamed Khaled said the two affected districts in Sabah were Sandakan and Paitan, while in Johor the affected district was Mersing, adding that districts in the east coast states were most severely affected.

“For the record, 28 officers and 489 soldiers with an adequate number of boats and high-mobility lorries are deployed in flood-affected districts to assist in rescue and relocation aid, providing assistance at flood shelters, and mobilising forward medical teams to assist the Health Ministry in health services.