Varsity students allowed to defer exams due to flood, says Idris

A resident in Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, waiting to be rescued. A Flood Disaster Committee has been set up in the state to coordinate relief efforts. – AFP pic, December 27, 2014.

Students in public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) in areas affected by the flood will be allowed to defer their examination, said Education Minister II Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh.

He advised those who were not able to return to campus to sit for the semester examination, scheduled next week, to contact their respective universities, Bernama reported.

"Their vice-chancellors have agreed to defer the examination," he said in his Twitter entry yesterday.

The IPTA that are located in the flood hit areas are Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin.

As of yesterday evening, the floods in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Perak had forced more than 100,000 people to be evacuated, with the highest number of evacuees in Kelantan, totalling 45,467 people.

A Flood Disaster Committee had also been formed in Kelantan to ensure smooth handling of the flood situation in the state, Bernama reported.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, who has been appointed to chair the committee, said State Secretary Datuk Fauzi Mamat and Kelantan Federal Development Department director Datuk Makhtar Mustapha had been appointed as his deputies.

"Under this committee, there are five sub-committees, namely the food supply committee, non-food committee, logistics committee, medical committee, and media committee.

"These committees have also conducted their own meetings as I want all problems concerning the floods to be solved immediately," he told reporters after the committee meeting in Kota Baru, yesterday.

Also present were Communication and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad and National Security Council secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab.

Mustapa said a command centre was also set up at the 8th Infantry Brigade in Pengkalan Chepa to handle food supplies and logistics.

He said the committee was currently identifying the exact number of evacuation centres, as there could be places which had not been registered.

As there is no electricity supply at evacuation centres, Mustapa said power banks would be provided and the supply was scheduled to arrive tomorrow, Bernama reported.

He added that the improving weather in Kuala Krai had enabled food supply to be sent to the relief centres, including using helicopters.

Meanwhile, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir reminded the public not to be fooled by talks that Teluk Intan town would sink because of floods.

He said there were no signs that areas in Teluk Intan would experience major flooding, Bernama reported.

"It is not true. The water has receded and there are no signs of floods. There is talk in social media that Teluk Intan will sink," he told reporters after accompanying the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Jaafar Raja to inspect Sungai Perak, in Teluk Intan, yesterday.

Zambry urged residents living on the river banks to comply with the directives of the authorities to immediately evacuate if instructed to do so.

Perak has 6,119 flood victims with Kuala Kangsar district recording 2,579 victims in 50 relief centres. – Bernama