RIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL: State building flooded, yet Kelantan insists hudud sitting still on

The worsening flood situation in Kota Baru, Kelantan, has put the proposed special sitting on the hudud bill on Dec 29 in limbo.

Less than 72 hours from the proposed sitting time, the state assembly has no proper venue for the meeting to take place.

The State Secretariat Building (SUK) at Kota Darul Naim, where sittings are held, has been water-logged since yesterday evening, and water level, as of 1.30pm today, is about 30cm.

With the worsening flood situations in the state, telecommunications and electricity have been cut off, putting the possibility of the sitting happening in peril.

Last night, Bernama reported that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has suspended the operations of 1,606 sub-stations throughout Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu, in view of the severe floods in the states, causing electricity to be cut off.

According to a staff member from the menteri besar’s communications team, the current state administrative operations has been moved to the hall of the Telipot Mosque three kilometres away from the SUK building.

“All the official vehicles have been moved to a safe place since yesterday evening.

“The SUK is no more operational and has been moved to the Telipot Mosque,” the officer, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Malaysiakini today.

He also said that the area around the menteri besar’s official residence in JKR 10 (right) - one and a half kilometres away from the state secretariat building - has been submerged in water as deep as 15cm, yesterday evening.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said that a decision will be made tomorrow on the sitting.

“For now, we are still ‘on’ but that depends on the flood situations and the MB will decide it tomorrow,” he was reported saying by Bernama.

Nik Mohd Amar said at noon, the water level in Kota Darul Naim was knee-deep but this should not hinder the special sitting from happening.

He said should the sunny weather they have been experiencing today continue, conditions will improve in the flooded areas.

Situation in six districts improving

Earlier, state deputy speaker Abdul Latif Abdul Rahman, when contacted, said any announcement on the special sitting will come from Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaakob.

“I cannot answer this as I have no information on it. I myself have been caught in the Kuala Krai floods. My house has been filled with water and I have had to move.

“If there are any changes (to the special sitting), the menteri besar himself will announce it,” Abdul Latif  told Malaysiakini.

Bernama today reported that the number of flood evacuees in Kelantan has increased from 32,139 this morning to 45,467, as of 3.00pm.

The evacuees dropped slightly to 32,139 from 34,955 last night after the situation saw an improvement in six districts, but increased by 13,328 as of 3pm.

Bernama reported this morning that the number of flood evacuees in Kelantan dropped slightly to 32,139 from 34,955 last night after the situation saw an improvement in six districts.

The number of evacuees earlier in the Kota Baru district dropped to 1,198 from 3,231; Tanah Merah, to 3,546 from 3,840; Pasir Mas, to 6,379 from 7,237; Gua Musang, to 5,150 from 7,385; Tumpat, to 5,005 from 5,803; and Pasir Puteh, to 192 from 193.

However, the flood situation in three other districts worsened. In Kuala Krai, those evacuated increased from 4,864 to 5,200.

The number of victims from Machang and Jeli also increased from 1,133 to 4,039 and 1,269 to 1,430, respectively. - M'kini