KUANTAN: The Pahang Department of Social Welfare (JKM) has sent over 224 tonnes of dry food to 165 forward bases across the state in preparation for the Northeast Monsoon or rainy season. Its director, Khairul Amri Ahmad, stated that the distribution, which involved an expenditure of RM3.3 million, can meet the needs of communities for between three and 14 days, depending on the location of the forward bases.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the supplies are meticulously planned to cater to areas expected to be cut off, such as Tioman Island in Rompin, where the supplies are intended to last for 10 days, and Ulu Tembeling in Jerantut, with a 14-day supply. The forward bases serve as storage points for dry food supplies, which include rice, sugar, chicken curry, sardines, coffee, tea, salt, biscuits, and cooking oil. In total, Kuantan has forward bases in 19 locations, Maran (12), Temerloh (33), Bera (12), Jerantut (19), Lipis (18), Raub (11), Bentong (8), and Cameron Highlands (3), as well as 15 in Pekan an
d Rompin.
Khairul Amri mentioned that JKM had also distributed other essential items to all district disaster stores, including mats, blankets, towels, adult diapers, sarongs, bandages, hygiene kits, refreshment kits, and ready-to-eat meals. In addition, the state JKM conducted three series of Disaster Management Strengthening Workshops for its staff at the state and district levels, and district disaster coordinators, to prepare them mentally, physically, and with the necessary knowledge for the upcoming monsoon season.
Furthermore, JKM has carried out two series of Temporary Relief Centre Management Simulation Training for the centres’ chairpersons, comprising teachers, village heads, and disaster agency personnel, with a total of 861 relief centres registered to accommodate flood victims in Pahang. Earlier, Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, announced the rainy season in Malaysia is expected to begin yesterday until March next year, with five to seven episodes
of heavy rainfall anticipated in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak, and Sabah.