Provide disaster relief funds to Terengganu, Kelantan, Anwar tells Putrajaya

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants Putrajaya to approve disaster relief funds for Kelantan and Terengganu in the wake of devastating floods. – The Malayian Insider pic, December 24, 2014.Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants Putrajaya to approve disaster‎ relief funds to Kelantan and Terengganu, in the wake of the floods that have devastated the two states.

The PKR de facto chief noted that more than 30,000 people have been affected by the floods and forced to evacuate their homes, adding that this was one of the worst floods the states had experienced.

‎"I urge the federal government to approve a grant for disaster relief to Kelantan and Terengganu as soon as possible, to help the state governments handle the floods and alleviate the burden of the public,"‎ he said in a statement today.

Anwar said he and PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were saddened by the floods and prayed to Allah to lessen the sufferings of the flood victims.

"There is no doubt that global climate change, as well as the rainy season are among the factors that have caused these extraordinary floods," added Anwar.‎
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Thousands of residents in Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis and Pahang have had to be evacuated due to floods in various districts, Bernama reported today at noon.

In Kelantan, 20,709 victims from 6,795 families in eight districts were evacuated compared to 20,468 people Tuesday morning, while the number of flood relief centres increased to 84 from 70.

The water levels at five major rivers rose above the danger levels with Sungai Golok at 10.34 metres (danger level: nine metres).

The other rivers which have breached the danger levels were Sungai Galas (42.08 metres) in Dabong, Gua Musang, Sungai Lebir in Tualang, Gua Musang (40.27 metres), Sungai Kelantan at Tangga Krai, Kuala Krai (29.10 metres) and Sungai Kelantan at Guillemard Bridge, Tanah Merah (17.95 metres).

The danger levels of the other four rivers are 38 metres, 35 metres, 25 metres and 16 metres, respectively.

In Terengganu, the number of victims evacuees rose drastically to 11,731 people yesterday.

In Pahang, the number of flood victims went up to 2,555 from 598 families, compared to 2,386 from 560 families Tuesday morning.

The Malaysia Drainage and Irrigation Department's website shows four major rivers in Pahang, including two in Jerantut, having exceeded the danger levels.

In Perlis, floods started to inundate the northern part of the state since Monday following several days of continuous rain.

Residents in the affected areas were moved out late last night and the Perlis National Security Council (MKN) was monitoring the situation.

- TMI