Kemaman flood management plan to be improved to become model

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PUTRAJAYA: The flood management plan in Kemaman, Terengganu which fulfilled the golden standard will be improved to be turned into a model in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for preparedness in facing disasters at the national level, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when visiting the flood affected areas in Kemaman, had given recognition to the SOP for preparations and management to face the floods in Kemaman as having achieved the golden standard.

The Kemaman member of parliament said the Terengganu government would collaborate with the National Security Council (MKN) to again outline the model which was implemented, especially in Kemaman, before being adopted as a SOP for implementation in any area affected by the floods.

Based on the experience in facing the disaster, several management aspects before, during and after the floods which were not found in the MKN SOP should be improved, he said.

“All measures based on the Terengganu model will be scrutinised again with several improvements which, when the time comes, can be adopted in other places,” he said after chairing the Rehabilitation Management and Post-Floods Aid Committee meeting for the state of Terengganu, here yesterday.

Also present were Communications and Multimedia Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad and Terengganu Deputy State Secretary (Management) Samiun Salleh.

Explaining the flood management plan implemented in Kemaman, Ahmad Shabery said it included holding district disaster management meetings since April, followed by flood simulation in November.

Kemaman residents were also given the card containing information on flood evacuation centres that they should go to in case a flood alert was issued with food supply provided for a duration of one week, he said.

Three helicopter landing sites were also provided with the landing points being given to the security forces to facilitate landing, the minister said.

In addition, a tactical headquarters for use by the security forces and equipped with rescue equipment and adequate food supply was also provided much earlier to ensure that rescue missions proceeded smoothly during the floods.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Shabery said his ministry had been entrusted to gather data on the total damages and needs for Terengganu following the floods. — Bernama