Rohani (centre) attending a Flood Relief Centre simulation programme at Pantai Cahaya Bulan. — Bernama photo
KOTA BAHARU: The Welfare Department (JKM) has identified 5,161 relief centres that can accommodate 1,605,020 flood victims, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
She said it involved the use of large-capacity buildings which could accommodate more than 2,000 victims at a time and expansion of the use of private buildings.
“The buildings include warehouses and factories,” she told reporters after attending a Flood Relief Centre simulation programme at Pantai Cahaya Bulan here, yesterday
She said the department also supplied basic needs and dry food items, which could last for five days for 320,000 victims, in its five depots in Bedong (Kedah), Sungai Buloh (Selangor), Kemumin (Kelantan), Marang (Terengganu) and Muar (Johor).
In addition, she said the department had also added 117 forward bases throughout the country, bringing the total bases to 547 from 430 previously.
“The bases and centres will be equipped with essential goods which can last at least for seven days,” she said.
She said the department also supplied 15,000 sets of mobile partitions, foam mats (12,000 units), walkie-talkies (300 units) and life jackets (2,400 units).
“The department has also set up seven committees in relief centres to take care of registration, utilities supply, food, cleanliness, safety and health, activities and volunteers,” she said.
Later in Kuala Lumpur, speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Institut Sosial Malaysia (ISM) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Rohani said her ministry had also planned various activities at Flood Relief Centres to keep evacuees occupied to prevent boredom.
The activities also included spiritual counselling, she said.
The MoU signed by UTHM deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Dr Hashim Saim and ISM director Dr Al- Azmi Bakar is for cooperation between the two entities on human capital development for the country. A book to the effect was also launched at the event. — Bernama