Shahidan (second right) wants extra attention to be given to children and senior citizens. Seen on the right is Tiong.
One of the volunteers carry the boat to be used by the residents at Taman Jason.
Mohd Takip Mokhtar, 64, shows the water level in his house in Kpg Kemunting.
Local residents at Taman Jason building a boat from the water tank.
Welfare Department on standby to help more people displaced by rising water, 10 schools closed yesterday
KUCHING: A total of 184 families comprising 790 people have been evacuated to relief centres set up at Surau Kpg Kemunting and the Bintulu Civic Centre as of noon yesterday.
Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the state Welfare Department had provided mattresses, blankets, food and food items including instant noodles and cooking utensils for those displaced by the flood.
“The department has prepared extra food, mattresses and blankets in anticipation of more flood victims being transferred to the civic centre as more rain is expected to fall” said Fatimah who is also Dalat assemblywoman when contacted.
Her caution was backed by a statement from the Meteorological Department which forecast more rains are expected especially in coastal and east Sarawak for few more days.
Meanwhile the Education Department disclosed that five primary schools were closed in Bintulu as of 4 pm yesterday.
The schools were SK Sg Silas, SK Ulu Segan, SK Sg Setiam, SK Kampung Nyalau and SK Sungai Tisang.
The worst affected school was SK Kampung Nyalau where flood water rose up to four feet while the other schools were closed either because the school compound was flooded or the road leading to them were under water.
Overall, 10 primary schools were closed statewide yesterday including SK Hermanus Assan in Sebauh, SK Kuala Kenyana (Mukah), SK Siang Siang (Lawas), SK Kuala Awang (Limbang) and SK Kampung Tegageng in Subis.
The closure of the schools affected a total of 1,282 pupils, 159 teachers and 67 support staff.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who is also the chairman of the National Security Council (NSC), accompanied by Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing visited flood victims in Bintulu.
When met at the Bintulu Civic Centre, Shahidan said the welfare of the flood victims was the priority and enough food supply, comfortable place to sleep and other basic necessities would be provided for them.
“Today we are giving out personal donation especially for the children, women and senior citizens,” he said.
He added the government would continue to help the victims after flood.
“We will consider the assistance after the flooding, for the time being there will be assistance from individual, from Tiong and me including from Yayasan Ikthisas Islam.
“I will be here from time to time to ensure there is enough assistance especially food. I have ordered the Social Welfare Department to distribute food items to those who were trapped in their houses,” said Shahidan.