More than 250,000 people have been displaced by massive floods affecting the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Johor. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 8, 2015.
More than two weeks since severe flooding struck the northeastern states of peninsular Malaysia, Putrajaya has begun to divide the post-disaster reconstruction work among government agencies.
The Star reported today that the cabinet has instructed Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa to determine the roles of ministries and agencies to deal with the aftermath of Malaysia's worst floods in decades.
It also reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the cabinet meeting yesterday ordered a review of standard operating procedures and asset deployment strategies during floods to ensure that authorities would be prepared if floods of a similar scale occurred again.
Quoting unnamed sources, The Star said the immediate priority was still to provide temporary shelters for victims.
“The chief secretary will have to gather all the necessary data to start the process of rebuilding and reconstruction,” The Star quoted an anonymous minister as saying.
“He will decide and determine which agency will be doing what."
As to long-term flood mitigation measures, the paper said the cabinet was considering the construction of more dams.
In addition to preventing floods, dams were a consideration as they could also be used to control peak flows, provide water supply, irrigation and hydro-electricity as well as eco-tourism attractions.
Meanwhile, the paper also reported Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan saying that the cabinet was looking into several options for temporary housing for flood victims.
This included opening the 2,250 houses built under the Hardcore Poor Programme in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
“We are also looking at providing them with cabins or making use of government quarters and National Service camps as efforts to rebuild houses are underway,” he was quoted as saying.
National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab told the daily that 2,660 homes in Kelantan had been hit by floods, 20 in Terengganu and 17 in Perak.
“This number could possibly rise because we have not seen the full disaster in Pahang,” he was quoted as saying, adding that they had set up 100 tents in Gua Musang, one of Kelantan's worst-hit areas.
There are plans to set up another 100 at the Sungai Durian army camp.
“Each tent can house between four and six people and has running water, electricity, toilet and bathroom,” he was further quoted as saying.
The floods in peninsular Malaysia that started in mid-December affected five states: Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Johor.
At its height, more than 250,000 people were displaced.
Although flood waters have subsided, recovery which is currently ongoing will take months as many have lost their homes and are left with only the clothes on their backs as they flee to higher grounds to escape the raging waters.
- TMI
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