KUCHING: The state Welfare Department (JKM) is now in the process of sending bottled water supplies to its forwarding bases in Miri, Kapit, Bintulu and Limbang divisions in preparation for possible drought in those areas, said its acting director Mohamad Guntor Rajaee.
He explained that the decision was taken after the Malaysian Meteorological Department Sarawak branch alerted that Sarawak was in the midst of the dry season which may last until early October.
“We have already started sending bottled water supplies to Miri, Kapit, Bintulu and Limbang divisions. We have also started stocking them at our depository in Kota Samarahan,” he told reporters at an event here yesterday.
Mohamad Guntor added that the department is currently focusing on getting ready for the possibility of drought occurring in Miri, due to the division frequently experiencing droughts.
He said another step taken was to get all JKM divisional offices to contact bottled water
suppliers in their respective division to obtain stocks of bottled water.
“For the provision of bottled water to victims of drought in the state, each person will get 36 litres of water in a week. The water will also be distributed in big bottles to avoid littering by those who receive the assistance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said apart from sending bottled water to areas experiencing drought, the Public Works Department (JKR) will also be delivering water to the people.
“The water sent by JKM is for consumption while the one sent by JKR will be for washing and other needs.
“The process of distributing water will also be in cooperation with government bodies such as the respective divisional disaster management committee as well as other relevant organisations and agencies,” she said.
Fatimah said her ministry has also taken the necessary steps in preparing for the drought in the state this year, similar to how the ministry carries out flood preparations.
“The steps taken by the ministry are the same taken every year because drought and flood happens annually in the state. The places which are anticipated to experience drought will be identified first before any aid will be sent.”
Fatimah pointed out that bottled water suppliers must also be identified prior to the distribution process because they would be among those who will help distribute the aid.
Earlier, Fatimah and Mohamad Guntor attended the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development’s 2019 Outstanding Service Award presentation ceremony.
Also present at the event were Fatimah’s two assistant ministers Datuk Francis Harden Hollis and Rosey Yunus.