Terengganu Braces For Monsoon Evacuations With 851 PPS

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- A total of 851 temporary relief centres (PPS) have been completed in preparation for the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) season which is expected to begin in the middle of this month.

Terengganu Disaster Committee deputy chairman Datuk Hanafiah Mat said the PPS in total has a capacity to accommodate around 214,392 flood victims.

Hanafiah, who is also the Terengganu Infrastructure, Utilities and Rural Development (Disaster Management) Committee chairman, said all the PPS are fully equipped and can be opened as soon as flood evacuation begins.

"In Kuala Terengganu, we have 30 PPS, Kuala Nerus (39), Marang (61), Dungun (107), Kemaman (99), Hulu Terengganu (162), Setiu (104) and Besut (249).

"The total allocation provided (for PPS operations) is RM4.1 million, which is RM2.8 million from the federal government and RM1.3 million from the state government," he said after the Third Session of the Third Term of the 15th Terengganu State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Darul Iman here today.

Hanafiah said the Terengganu Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) has also carried out cleaning and maintenance work on the drainage system along some 1,200 kilometres throughout the state.

According to him, this includes cleaning rivers, streams, and canals to smoothen the flow of run-off in the event of heavy rain, removing silt, garbage and wild weeds.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) director Colonel Mohd Zul Khairi Shamsuddin, when contacted by Bernama, said 800 personnel were ready to be deployed to help evacuate and rescue flood victims.

"We are also ready with various assets, including 63 boats, 13 lorries and 300 life jackets.

"All assets are in good condition and were readied in October," he added.

-- BERNAMA