Kuala Lumpur: The Social Welfare Department (JKM) consistently ensures sufficient food supplies are available for flood victims taking shelter at temporary relief centres (PPS) in Sabah and Sarawak. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri emphasized the department’s preparedness, revealing that supplies have been stocked at two disaster relief depots, one state warehouse, 33 district warehouses, eight mini depots, and 32 forward bases.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, JKM has activated 332 PPS in Sabah and 657 in Sarawak, with the capacity to house 331,343 victims across both states. Nancy Shukri highlighted these efforts during a special chamber session, aiming to ensure the well-being and comfort of those affected by the floods. The issue of flood and landslide disasters in Sarawak and Sabah was initially raised by Chiew Choon Man (PH-Miri) after the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, leading to further discussion in the Special Chamber as referred by Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Ramli Mohd Nor.

Nancy further stated that the District and State Disaster Management Committees have been instructed to ensure that supplies reach the affected locations promptly and that the PPS are properly equipped with necessary facilities. The total personnel strength stands at 14,209 in Sabah and 24,757 in Sarawak. Various assets, including lorries, four-wheel drive vehicles, amphibious boats, and ambulances, have been strategically placed across all districts to assist in disaster response.

Additionally, Nancy mentioned that the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has requested the Division Disaster Management Committees to streamline and expedite the registration process for flood victims. This measure is aimed at preventing delays in distributing ‘wang ehsan’ (compassionate aid) to those in need. Despite the ongoing flooding situation, district-level government agencies are actively working to identify household heads affected, ensuring that all eligible recipients will soon receive disaster aid from the federal government through the respective state governments.