Floods: Aid for victims was never blocked at USJ relief centre, all a misunderstanding, says MBSJ

THE scale of the flood disaster and lack of staff were some factors behind recent confusion and misunderstanding at a temporary relief centre in Putra Heights, says the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ).

Despite this, there was no issue of flood victims being denied their rights as suggested in a viral video, Subang Jaya deputy mayor Mohd Zulkurnain Che Ali told a press conference at the SMK USJ 23 relief centre in Subang Jaya on Monday (Dec 27).

The video clip suggested that aid sent to flood victims by well-wishers had been blocked at the centre.

Mohd Zulkurnain stressed that any shortcomings in managing aid distribution were tackled once various stakeholders stepped in to help.

According to Mohd Zulkurnain, the massive floods that simultaneously hit several areas in the Petaling district on Dec 18 resulted in a lack of officers and staff to manage the centre.

"Due to the many centres that were opened and (manpower shortage), MBSJ took the initiative to serve as coordinator to the relevant agencies and help with aid distribution," said Mohd Zulkurnain.

"All parties, including the school management, MBSJ, police, Red Crescent Society and volunteers, joined hands to collectively help and manage flood victims at the centre.

"Throughout the joint management of the SMK USJ 23 centre from Dec 21 until now, there may have been some shortcomings in management because MBSJ’s focus was on the clean-up of affected areas," he said.

He added that MBSJ, together with employees from government agencies and volunteers, made every effort to help with the distribution of donated items and ensure the victims' welfare.

At the same time, MBSJ was also helping to manage all relief centres in community halls, schools, mosques, surau and kafa under its administration, he added.

"Based on our records, on Dec 22, MBSJ was involved in the joint management of 22 centres housing 5,070 flood victims," he said.

"As for this SMK USJ 23 centre, a total of 648 people from 148 families were housed here on Dec 21, the largest number of victims in one centre under MBSJ’s administration at the time."

He called on all those involved in seeing to the welfare of flood victims to continue with their efforts until the situation was back to normal.